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Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Canary Island with fewest tourists named and it's not Tenerife or Lanzarote
New data has revealed just how cramped and crowded some of the popular Canary hotspots can get - while highlighting an under-appreciated island with hardly any tourists Avoid the coach loads of holidaymakers and rowdy anti-tourist protests on this little-known Canary Island once considered to have been 'the end of the world'. The Spanish-owned archipelago, located just off the coast of northwestern Africa, has long been a firm favourite amongst Brits, thanks to its year-round sunshine, close proximity to the UK, and endless beauty. Last year, a staggering 15.5 million tourists flocked to the Canaries in search of sun, sand, and sangria - a 10 per cent spike compared to 2023. However, the influx has sparked backlash amongst locals - many of whom argue they're being priced out of the property market due to the soaring demand for short-term holiday lets. This has resulted in a slew of demonstrations erupting across the islands, as banner-cladded residents demand Brits 'go home'. But many people do not realise that the Canary archipelago is much more than just Tenerife and Lanzarote - and also comprises of Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. If you're wanting a true week of rest and relaxation - the latter needs to be on your bucket list. has analysed tourist numbers along with the size of the destination to work out which Canary Island is the most overcrowded. Unsurprisingly, it found Lanzarote witnesses a staggering 21,600 overnight stays per km2 of land - while Tenerife recorded 16,873 overnight stays per km2 last year. Gran Canaria follows closely (16,709 overnight stays) while Fuerteventura - often touted as the quiet island - was ranked as Europe's 12th most crowded destination. However, the tiny island of El Hierro only saw 610 visitors per km2. Popular with scuba divers due to its wildlife-rich waters and unspoiled corals, El Hierro is a true coastal gem. "The smallness of the island does not prevent you from finding a surprising variety of scenery on it," states the Canary Island's official tourism board. "Best of all is that, as the distances are so short, we can have a relaxing swim at the coast one minute and be walking along a trail among Canary Island pines or laurisilva species a short while later." Hikers will absolutely adore El Hierro and have to check out the famous Camino de Jinama trail. The old route which used to be used by the island's inhabitants is only just over three kilometres long but offers some pretty stunning views. There is one small catch with El Hierro, which could explain why it hasn't been thrusted under the tourist limelight: there are hardly any beaches. Luckily, you can still bask in the sun in one of El Hierro's many natural pools, including the famous Charco Azul. You cannot fly directly to El Hierro from the UK, meaning Brits will first have to get to Tenerife. Luckily, many airlines fly this popular route - meaning you can get direct fares from Bristol, London, Leeds, Manchester, and Liverpool. If you're flexible with dates, you can grab return flights for as little as £60 in July. Once in Tenerife, you'll need to catch a 40-minute flight over to El Hierro. These tend to only run once a week and cost around £80 for a return trip. There is a range of accommodation types on the island to suit most people's budget. For example, a week's stay (Monday, July 14-21) at the no-thrills Casita con Encanto will set you back £383. This is based on two adults sharing a one-bedroom house with two single beds. For those wanting something a bit more luxurious, check out La Huguera. This spacious chalet, which boasts both mountain and sea views, costs £609 for the exact same dates. *Prices based on Skyscanner and listings at the time of writing.
STV News
08-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Scottish Power given £1.35bn to build cables carrying wind power to England
Scottish Power is being handed a £1.35bn loan to upgrade the power grid between Scotland and England. The cash from the UK's National Wealth Fund and several banks will help pay for work on several major offshore cabling projects carrying electricity from wind farms in Scotland into England, via the North Sea. The UK taxpayer fund is contributing £600m to the Glasgow-based, Spanish-owned utility company. The Eastern Green Link (EGL) project will carry electricity from Torness in south-east Scotland to Hawthorn Pit substation in County Durham. Another line, the EGL four, will carry power from Fife to Lincolnshire. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the project would help 'bring down bills, put more money in working people's pockets and enable businesses to expand'. 'That is why I am so pleased to see the National Wealth Fund securing deals such as this,' she added. Currently, large amounts of power generated by Scottish wind turbines are wasted every year because the grid does not have the capacity to carry it south of the border. When bottlenecks happen, wind farms are paid to stop operating and gas power stations are paid extra to supply the energy needed. The system is known as curtailment, and cost about £1.23bn last year, according to analysis published by energy firm Drax in March, and the money is added on to energy bills. Energy secretary Ed Miliband added that the cash would 'help to deliver clean power by 2030 by speeding up grid upgrades – bringing cheaper, homegrown renewable power into homes and businesses, while supporting skilled jobs across the country'. About £600m of the funding is coming from the National Wealth Fund, a publicly-owned investment vehicle set up by the Labour government last year. The rest is coming from a series of banks, led by Bank of America and including BNP Paribas, Lloyds and NatWest. Keith Anderson, chief of Scottish Power, said working together with the financing organisations is 'an important catalyst for economic growth, as we make progress in bringing more renewables onto the system'. The financing will also help pay for grid upgrades including new substations and overhead lines in Scotland. The UK's National Energy System Operator has estimated that up to £60bn of investment is needed over the next five years to meet its clean power goals. John Flint, CEO of the National Wealth Fund, said the projects will 'have a major impact on the transition to a renewables-based electricity system and help address the grid constraints that make electricity more expensive'. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Independent
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Santander UK profits fall as bank lowers economic growth outlook
Santander has revealed lower profits in the UK as it set aside more cash to cover costs related to cutting its high street branches, and lowered its outlook for economic growth this year. The UK bank said it was making some big changes to how the business is run in order to reduce costs. It reported a pre-tax profit of £358 million for the first quarter, between January and March, which was 8% lower than the same period a year ago. Mike Regnier, Santander UK's chief executive, said that 'charges relating to changes to our branch network' drove profits lower in recent months. This has involved it putting aside more cash to cover charges and business expenses that come with the overhaul – with total provisions rising 69% to £140 million for the quarter. Last month, the Spanish-owned banking giant said it was shutting 95 of its 444 branches across Britain from June, while also cutting hours across 36 sites and switching 18 to be counter-free. Some 750 staff will be placed at risk of redundancy as a result of the move. It said the changes will 'enable the bank to better serve the changing needs of its customers', as it also highlighted that customers were continuing to opt for digital banking over 'traditional' channels. It has also been pushing ahead with simplifying and automating parts of the business which it expects to lead to cost-savings over 2025. Meanwhile, Santander said it was keeping a close eye on increasing geopolitical risks and the potential impact on its customers. It comes as Banco Santander, the wider group which incorporates its international operations, said the first three months of the year had been 'characterised by growing uncertainty caused by certain geopolitical tensions', mainly tariff policies in the US and increased defence spending in Europe. New projections by the bank show UK economic growth is expected to be slower this year than previously forecast. The 'base case' scenario shows gross domestic product (GDP) falling to 0.8% this year, from 1.4% growth forecast in February. GDP will then rise to 1.3% in 2026, also lower than the 1.6% previously forecast. The downgrade reflects weaker growth over the second half of the year and reduced consumer and business confidence. In a worst-cast scenario, which could happen if investment weakens, global risks increase, and the UK labour force shrinks, GDP could drop by as much as 2.8% this year, according to the bank. Mr Regnier said that, 'looking ahead, we will look to build on our positive momentum and will continue to work closely with Banco Santander to ensure that we harness the benefits of being part of a global business'.
Irish Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Travel warning issued to tourists amid huge power outage in Spain and Portugal
Irish tourists have been caught up in widespread travel chaos after Spain and Portugal were hit by a massive power outage which has left millions without electricity and brought both countries to a standstill. The blackout late on Monday morning caused traffic lights and subway systems to suddenly fail, and has led to severe disruptions to air travel to and from both popular holiday destinations. Aena, the Spanish-owned company that manages its airports, has said that Madrid Barajas Airport - the busiest air hub on the Iberian peninsula - has been hit hardest by the power outage, with flight cancellations and delays. "Due to the power outage, some incidents are occurring at the airports," the Spanish airport operator said in a statement. "Contingency generators are active. Please check with your airline, as there may be disruptions to access and ground transportation." Lisbon Airport has reportedly told passengers to leave and contact their airline provider, and there is currently a zero rate for arrivals to avoid overcrowding in the already packed terminals. Portuguese carrier TAP Air Portugal said in a statement: 'Due to the power cut in several European countries, the operation of airports is temporarily very limited. TAP requests that you do not go to the airport until further information.' A flight set to depart from Dublin Airport to Lisbon at 6.50pm has been cancelled due to the power outages, while two flights set to arrive at the Irish airport from the Portuguese capital later this evening have also cancelled. The status of other major airports across the Iberian Peninsula remains unclear, although it is understood that the Balearic and Canary Islands, and Madeira remain unaffected by the blackout. While some of the airports affected by the power outage have been able to partially restore power supplies through the use of onsite generators, the blackout is likely to cause significant disruption to aviation for hours and possibly days, to come, due to knock-on effects following flight delays and cancellations. Carriers operating flights to and from Ireland have confirmed that they're monitoring the ongoing situation, and passengers are advised to check with their airline and keep up to date with airport's websites. In a statement posted to their website, Ryanair said: "We are monitoring potential disruption to flights operating to/from all airports in Spain and Portugal. "We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of this power outage, which is outside of our control." Following the major power outage, the Department of Foreign Affairs updated their travel advice for holidaymakers travelling to and from Spain and Portugal. For Spain, they said: 'The Embassy of Ireland, Madrid, is aware of widespread electricity outages across Spain. We recommend following the instructions of the local authorities at all times.' The Embassy of Ireland in Lisbon shared a similar message on their Facebook page as they said: "Embassy Lisbon is aware of ongoing issues affecting the power grid in Portugal. Please follow the instructions of the local authorities. In case of emergency, please contact DFAT +35314082000." The UK Foreign Office also updated its advice to travellers on Monday afternoon to say: "We are aware of reports of power outages across Andorra, mainland Spain and mainland Portugal and are monitoring the situation. "There may be travel disruption, check with your tour operator or airline for more information before travelling. Follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor local updates." Spanish power grid operator Red Electrica says it is working with energy companies to restore power in the area. However it has warned recovery could take up to 10 hours. In a statement on X, the operator said that protocols had been activated to "restore electricity supply in collaboration with sector companies following the blackout that occurred in the peninsular system." "The causes are being analysed, and all resources are being dedicated to resolving it," they added.
Metro
28-04-2025
- Metro
Your rights if Spain and Portugal's power outage has affected your flight
A major power outage affecting Spain, Portugal and parts of France is causing chaos, with traffic lights going dark, phonelines down and entire subway systems grinding to a halt. No reason has been given for the issue, which is also affecting flights in and out of the two countries. Air traffic is now reportedly operating at 'half capacity' across Spain due to the widespread power outage and flights scheduled to depart from Valencia and Barcelona are now listed online as delayed or cancelled. Madrid Barajas Airport has been hit hardest, with Aena, the Spanish-owned company that manages its airports, posting a statement to their website 'Due to the power outage, some incidents are occurring at the airports. Contingency generators are active,' reads the warning. 'Please check with your airline, as there may be disruptions to access and ground transportation.' Passengers at Barcelona airport have also taken to X to share the 'very unsettling' moment that the entire airport was suddenly plunged into darkness. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. In a statement posted to their website, Ryanair said they are keeping a close-eye on the ongoing situation. 'We are monitoring potential disruption to flights operating to/from all airports in Spain and Portugal,' reads the statement. 'We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of this power outage, which is outside of our control.' Follow our live blog for the latest updates on the Spain and Portugal power outage According to the Civil Aviation Authority, UK and EU airlines must look after you if your flight is delayed or cancelled. This includes everything from meals and accommodation to an alternative flight if necessary. Citizen's Advice says that airlines should also give impacted passengers access to phone calls and emails and, if they offer you a play to stay, organise the journeys between the hotel and the airport. Sometimes, the airline will cover this by handing you vouchers at the airport. When in doubt, keep any receipts for expenses and claim them back afterwards from the airliner. But an airliner will only cough up money for 'reasonable' expenses. The hotel minibar or penthouse suites likely can't be expensed. If you didn't book with a UK or EU airline, you'll need to check their terms and conditions. Though, for the most part, airlines should provide meals and accommodation as appropriate. Whether you're eligible for the above depends on the distance of your flight and how long you have waited: For short-haul (up to 1,500km over two hours or less) you must have been waiting for two hours or more. For medium-haul (between 1,500km and 3,500km over two to four hours) it's three hours or more. For long-haul (more than 3,500km over four hours or more) it's four hours or more. If your flight is covered by UK law, you can choose between either getting your cancelled flight refunded or being booked on an alternative route. Any part of your ticket you haven't used is eligible for a refund. So, if you were on a return flight to Heathrow and the outbound leg was cancelled, you can get that part of the journey refunded. You'll typically get your money back within a week. But not everyone is up for being stuck mid-layover. If you still want to travel, your airline must find a way to get you to your destination. This can include, say, if another airliner is flying to where you need to go soon or if there's another form of transport you can take. All at no extra cost. Check if the company you booked with is a member of ABTA, a trade association for tour operators and travel agents. It has a guide here on what you can do if your flight has been cancelled. A country-wide power outage isn't exactly an everyday thing, so this is what the law calls 'extraordinary circumstances'. This can include a fire, bad weather, bird strikes or defects with a plane. But none of these entitles impacted passengers to extra compensation, consumer watchdog Which? says. They're largely considered outside the airline's control. In other circumstances, however, it's a different story. You have several rights under the law if your journey is impacted by staff shortages, airline staff walkouts or if your flight was delayed because bad weather delayed a previous flight. What you're entitled to depends on the cause of the cancellation and how much notice the airline gave you. This can range from £220 for short-haul flights, £350 for mid-haul and £520 for long-haul. There might be things you do end up paying for. But you might be able to claim for them afterwards. More Trending This can include unused accommodation, where you'll need to contact your credit card provider or a travel insurance firm. As much as 94% of travel insurance policies travel abandonment, only 30% include wider travel disruption, according to analysts Defaqto. Travel insurance doesn't cover any loss of earnings if the delayed or cancelled flight means you can't work. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Madrid Open suspended as power outage in Spain forces players off court MORE: British man's sudden death 'hard to comprehend' after fall from bike in Majorca MORE: Jet2 flight forced to land mid-air after unruly passengers cause disruption
