Binter launches first direct route between Lanzarote and Santander

Binter officially inaugurated its first direct route between Lanzarote and Santander today, Tuesday 31^st March. The new service marks the first time a non-capital island has been linked directly to a mainland Spanish city.

The inaugural flight departed from Terminal 1 at Lanzarote Airport, where a formal ceremony brought together key institutional figures. Attendees included the president of the Lanzarote Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort; the CEO of SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote, Héctor Fernández; and the island director of the General State Administration, Pedro Marcial Viera, alongside representatives from the island’s municipalities.

Binter was represented by its Director of Programming, Revenue Management, and Alliances, Jonay Lobo, and the Head of Network, Daniel Rosales.

The new route will operate twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It represents an increase of more than 40% in capacity between the Canary Islands and Santander compared to the summer season of 2025.

Speaking at the event, Oswaldo Betancort highlighted the significance of the new link. “This route represents a qualitative and quantitative leap in the competitiveness of the island of Lanzarote,” he said. The president also congratulated the airline for making Lanzarote “the first non-capital island to connect directly with the mainland.”

Betancort went on to outline the opportunities that lie ahead. “From now on, both the Lanzarote Foreign Promotion Society and Lanzarote’s business community have work to do to forge active policy partnerships with the Government of Santander,” he stated, stressing the need to “join forces at the business, tourism, and cultural levels.”

He also remarked on the benefits for local residents, noting that the connection represents “an opportunity for the people of Lanzarote and Gracia as well.” He added: “This direct connection improves our quality of life.”

For Binter, the move represents a strategic expansion beyond its traditional base. Jonay Lobo explained that this is the first time the company has ventured outside its “comfort zone” of Gran Canaria and Tenerife. “We believe Santander is an attractive destination and that there was still room to grow with this new offering,” he said.

When asked about the possibility of further connections to other destinations or from other islands, Mr Lobo described the launch as a “first step”. “We’re not ruling anything out for the future, but at Binter we’re taking it step by step because we want to be cautious. We focus on service quality, and that takes time,” he noted.

To complement the launch, Turismo Lanzarote has arranged a promotional event on the island, which includes a visit from a group of journalists based in Cantabria. The delegation represents media outlets such as Onda Cero, El Economista, Ifomo, DXT Cantabria, and Metrópolis, among others.

As part of an ongoing strategy to deepen ties, Lanzarote will also conduct an institutional and business mission to Cantabria on 6th and 7th April, with the aim of strengthening collaboration and exploring new avenues for partnership.