The plan was announced by the islands’ tourism minister Yaiza Castilla to “recover air connectivity” as the world emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The €5 million aid will be offered to airlines operating to the Canaries from Spain and the rest of the EU, as well as “third” states such as the UK.

“After the outbreak of the pandemic, the return to normality hasn’t been easy as a result of travel restrictions,” explained Castilla.

“The airline companies face a difficult financial situation thanks to a lack of activity, so it is to be expected that their focus will now move to the most profitable routes.

“For this reason, Canary Islands Tourism is prioritising a system of aid that compensates for the archipelago’s disadvantages in attracting air traffic and that helps increase access for national and international visitors.”

Airlines can apply for grants to the Canary Islands government within 15 business days of the announcement of the policy on 6 October, with aid available for flights arriving in the Canaries between June 2021 and the end of the year.

The subsidy will be calculated on a per seat basis with up to €6 per seat for international flights and €3 for domestic services. Airlines can receive grants of up to €600,000 from the initiative.