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Metro
16 hours ago
- Metro
Passengers on TUI flight evacuated after bomb threat note in the toilet
British passengers were forced to evacuate a TUI flight yesterday after a bomb threat was found on board. Cabin crew members found the threatening note inside the toilet on the jet as it flew from Cardiff to the Canary Islands on Thursday morning. They handed the note to the pilots, who then quickly diverted the Flight BY6422 to César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport in Lanzarote. Once the plane landed, passengers were rushed off and bomb specialists were called to investigate. They were told to identify their luggage after they disembarked from the jet, according to the Canarian Weekly. No explosive devices were found and the bomb squad confirmed it was a false alarm while four departures at the airport were delayed. Two F-16M jets from Air Base number 5 in Monte Real were also deployed as the note was found while the plane was flying over Portugal, the Portuguese Air Force said in a statement. Air traffic controllers posted on X: 'The plane has been guided with the presence of firefighters to a siding where the passengers have had to identify their luggage. 'Landing and takeoff operations have been temporarily interrupted, which has caused some delays.' A spokesperson for the Portuguese military said: 'With the F-16Ms already monitoring the situation to ensure the safety and good management of national airspace, the crew of the civilian aircraft decided to continue the flight to the destination airport, outside national territory. 'Upon leaving the national flight information region, responsibility passed to Spain, with the Portuguese F-16Ms carrying out the handover of the mission and subsequent return to Monte Real.' Authorities are now investigating the incident to find out what happened on the plane. More Trending TUI has been contacted for comment by Metro. In a separate incident, a Ryanair flight crashed into a barrier shortly after landing Kalamata International Airport. The Boeing 737 had landed at the airport on Wednesday morning from London Stansted Airport. Passengers on flight FR6080 reportedly endured 'severe turbulence' during the three-and-a-half-hour flight. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Map shows where Oxford plans UK's first congestion charge in 20 years MORE: Elizabeth line fare dodger caught red handed after evading £1,650 in tickets MORE: Spain's little-known village with 'hanging houses' is a hidden gem overlooked by tourists
Metro
16 hours ago
- Metro
Passengers on TUI flight evacuated after bomb threat note in loo
British passengers were forced to evacuate a TUI flight yesterday after a bomb threat was found on board. Cabin crew members found the threatening note inside the toilet on the jet as it flew from Cardiff to the Canary Islands on Thursday morning. They handed the note to the pilots, who then quickly diverted the Flight BY6422 to César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport in Lanzarote. Once the plane landed, passengers were rushed off and bomb specialists were called to investigate. No explosive devices were found and the bomb squad confirmed it was a false alarm while four departures at the airport were delayed. Two F-16M jets from Air Base number 5 in Monte Real were also deployed as the note was found while the plane was flying over Portugal, the Portuguese Air Force said in a statement. Passengers were told to identify their luggage when they got off the plane, according to the Canarian Weekly. Air traffic controllers posted on X: 'The plane has been guided with the presence of firefighters to a siding where the passengers have had to identify their luggage. 'Landing and takeoff operations have been temporarily interrupted, which has caused some delays.' A spokesperson for the Portuguese military said: 'With the F-16Ms already monitoring the situation to ensure the safety and good management of national airspace, the crew of the civilian aircraft decided to continue the flight to the destination airport, outside national territory. 'Upon leaving the national flight information region, responsibility passed to Spain, with the Portuguese F-16Ms carrying out the handover of the mission and subsequent return to Monte Real.' Authorities are now investigating the incident to find out what happened on the plane. More Trending TUI has been contacted for comment by Metro. In a separate incident, a Ryanair flight crashed into a barrier shortly after landing Kalamata International Airport. The Boeing 737 had landed at the airport on Wednesday morning from London Stansted Airport. Passengers on flight FR6080 reportedly endured 'severe turbulence' during the three-and-a-half-hour flight. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Tourists from huge European country flood Canary Islands and it's not just Brits
The Canary Island set a new benchmark for international tourism, despite ongoing anti-tourist protests - and holidaymakers from one EU country in particular make up the largest tourist segment The Canary Islands are still a major holiday hotspot for Europeans despite cries of overcrowding from locals. According to Spanish publication Canarian Weekly, more than 4.36 million foreign visitors descended on the islands in the first quarter of this year alone - with holidaymakers from one EU country making up the largest segment. And it appears German tourists cannot seem to get enough of the archipelago's sunshine and beaches. Euronews reported that Spain remains the top holiday destination for Germans in 2025, with the Canary Islands leading the way with year-round sun. The Canaries offer an unusually stable subtropical climate, with daytime temperatures rarely falling below 20C even in January. Gran Canaria is often touted as the hottest, retaining such heat due to its proximity to Northern Africa. Like Britain, Germans endure cold and snowy conditions from the months of December through to February. Another strong appeal for German travellers is likely the home comforts that can still be enjoyed in places like Tenerife and Gran Canaria. The undeniable abundance of German tourists over the years mean that popular destinations have adapted to offer German-language menus and Bavarian staples. Direct flights from cities like Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin also make travel relatively simple. Regular departures to the Canaries from Germany also enable spontaneous and cost-effective travel. A flight from Dusseldorf to Lanzarote takes around four hours and 30 minutes, a similar time-scale to planes departing from London. Germans also have a notorious love of the outdoors and hiking that also makes the Canary Islands particularly appealing. The archipelago is packed with coastal walks and hiking trails, and the laidback lifestyle is ideal for recuperating. It is certainly no surprise why Germans, Brits and all international travellers return again and again to Tenerife and Gran Canaria. However, the frustration of locals and increasing pressure on the housing market exacerbated by expats and tourists is only mounting. Ivan Cerdena Molina, an activist within the protest movement and a member of local environmental group ATAN, voiced his frustration that despite the protests, more tourists visited his homeland last year than the year before. "We had 16 million tourists [in the Canaries] in 2023 and 18 million in 2024. In 2025, the number is increasing again. The government didn't do anything; it just spoke nice words with no real action.", reports the Express . Local governments are also implementing taxes to manage tourism. British holidaymakers heading to the Canary Island of Fuerteventura will soon have to pay a tourist tax. The island's government has confirmed it will introduce the charge for the wild beach of Cofete, the sand dunes of Correlejo and the sea caves of Ajuy. The move will follow the example of Tenerife, which has already started charging visitors to the mountain-top village of Masca and intends to do the same with Mount Teide.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Major Spanish airport to extend opening hours but change will come after summer
A popular Spanish airport, which welcomed more than six million visitors last year, has confirmed it will extend its opening hours after the summer period - providing more flexibility for airlines A popular airport in the Canary Islands will undergo a major shakeup, as it continues to 'strengthen links' to the holiday hotspot. For years, Fuerteventura was dismissed as the 'boring' side of the archipelago - constantly overshadowed by neighbouring party resorts in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. However, the destination - which is the second largest Canary Island - has witnessed a huge tourist boom. Lured in by its unspoilt golden beaches, cobalt waters, rugged volcanos and rich wildlife - Fuerteventura's mass appeal is finally starting to be appreciated. It's great for surfers, water sports enthusiasts, hikers, or those that just want to chill by the pool with a good book. Last year, the island's airport handled a whopping 6.4 million passengers - marking a 7.1 per cent increase from 2023 and a huge 14.4 per cent spike compared to pre-covid years. Now, it is extending its operating hours - but there is a catch. According to Canarian Weekly, Fuerteventura Airport currently closes at 10.30pm, but a new timetable will push this back by 30 minutes, until 11pm. However, the extension won't come into effect until November 1, meaning passengers flying to the hotspot during the summer won't be impacted by the change. The move comes as Spain's airport operator AENA has also given the green-light for La Palma Airport to open until 11pm. In a statement sent to the Mirror, AENA confirmed the airport will also have the option to extend its operating hours by one hour, until midnight, upon request from an operator. "The schedule extension can be requested to accommodate previously scheduled commercial flights that have experienced delays and need to operate after the regular closing time due to unforeseen causes, such as operational issues or weather conditions," a spokesperson said. "All involved groups and organisations, which were previously consulted to conduct the technical feasibility study, have been informed. "Modifications to an airport's operating hours begin with a request from at least one airline, which provides a reasoned justification through a firm proposal for scheduling additional flights during that time. The procedure requires a detailed prior study of its feasibility, not only from a financial perspective, but also from the priorities and perspectives of all parties, including inter-island connectivity." While a later closing time can provide more flexibility for airlines - it may not go down well with residents who live nearby. Fuerteventura's skyrocketing popularity has dragged it into Spain's escalating anti-tourist sentiment, as Brits take the blame for the country's worsening housing crisis. Over the last year, several protests have erupted across the island, as banner-waving residents demand tourists 'go home'. As previously reported, the island's government has confirmed it will introduce a tourist tax for entering the wild beach of Cofete, the awe-inspiring sand dunes of Correlejo and the vast sea caves of Ajuy. Jessica de León, Minister of Tourism and Employment of the Government of the Canary Islands, has insisted that Fuerteventura 'must now be incorporated into the regional debate on the ecotax in protected natural spaces'. Fuerteventura's president, Lola Garcia, also said the collection of a tourist tax was necessary to raise money for the maintenance of the natural spaces visited by hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers each year.
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Huge Canary Island resort begins £587m investment for first time in 14 years
Local authorities have reportedly green-lighted a mega £587 million project to build five new hotels, and expand an existing one, in a Canary Island hotspot - despite rising anti-tourist sentiment Following more than a decade of 'stagnation', one tourist resort in the Canary Islands is about to be totally transformed. Famed for its golden sandy beaches, modern shopping malls and stylish restaurants - the sun-soaked region of Meloneras in south Gran Canaria has been attracting holidaymakers for decades. It's ideally located less than an hour away from the island's capital, Las Palmas, making it a great base to explore Gran Canaria's rich history, including the UNESCO-accredited Vegueta neighbourhood. Following 14 years of 'bureaucratic delays and planning gridlock', developments on the island have struggled to get off the ground. However, the San Bartolomé de Tirajana (Maspalomas) local council has reportedly green-lighted a huge project to expand one existing hotel and build five new ones. According to Canarian Weekly, the developments - which are being spearheaded by the Lopesan Group, are expected to exceed a staggering €700 million (approx. £587 million). The site states the investment will add 1,800 hotel rooms, 3,600 new beds and will cover a total area of 271,500 square metres. "The hotel expansion includes a 533-room congress hotel with 1,200 beds, which is already under construction," Canarian Weekly added. "A second hotel on a 56,100 m² plot, will offer 1,123 beds, while a third property on 25,500 m² of land will feature 691 beds." The fourth development site is believed to be made up of several villas and bungalows, while the fifth hotel, which will rise up to seven storeys, will be located across from the acclaimed Baobab Hotel. The project will also seek to improve infrastructure in the area, by creating wider streets, new roundabouts, and even a service road that runs parallel to the seafront, local media writes. It has not yet been confirmed how long the hotels will take to build, or when they will be open for use. The Lopesan Hotel Group already manages 11 luxury hotels in Gran Canaria, two in Fuerteventura, as well as sites in Thailand, Germany, and Austria. While the news may go down well with sun-worshipping Brits wanting to live it up in luxury for a week in the summer holidays - Lopesan's mega plans might spark backlash from fed-up locals. Many residents are becoming increasingly critical of over-tourism on the island - arguing it has worsened the country's housing crisis and is resulting in irreversible environmental damage. Last year, a slew of anti-tourist protests erupted across the archipelago - as frustrated locals, armed with banners, demanded holidaymakers 'go home'. Tensions have continued to rise in recent months, with demonstrations taking place across the Canary Islands just two weeks ago. Do you have a story to share? Email us at yourmirror@ for a chance to be featured.
