The Canary Islands may introduce a flat rate for taxis to make costs more predictable and competitive for travellers. The government hopes an aligned service may encourage locals and tourists to use the transport, with additional charges currently varying hugely among municipalities and islands such as Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria.
If it goes ahead, taxis would have a standard fare with no additional charges, and the government has also pushed to trial flat-rate airport fares on selected islands. María Fernández, the Director General of Transport for the Canary Islands, proposed the idea on Monday to the regional Taxi Board to make travel “easier” in the archipelago.
She added that it could streamline the passenger experience and that services needed to be digitised so that travellers could calculate costs before they travel.
Fernández said: “This is about making taxi travel easier, more consistent, more competitive, and more predictable. Once prices are clearer, many locals might find taxis a more convenient alternative to using their own car.”
She emphasised councils would have the option to join the unitary system, and those with specific needs could still maintain their own fare structures.
However, Fernández noted it could alleviate problems for certain councils that struggle to update their taxi tariffs regularly due to limited staff and resources, resulting in inconsistencies that can confuse both locals and tourists.
The proposal also suggested allowing taxis to operate in shared service zones, such as major festivals, sporting fixtures, and busy weekend markets.
It is hoped this could improve the user experience by enabling taxis from different municipalities to work together effectively during high-demand periods.
The initiative will be discussed with taxi associations, island councils, and the Canary Islands Federation of Municipalities (FECAM).
This is the “first step”, and the government hopes to have a working proposal by the end of the year, with official approval possible in 2026.