© Vueling
Spain's government reassess travel discounts to Mallorca
Partido Popular government had planned to scrap the 50% travel discount for residents of Balearics & Canary Islands
The Spanish government are under pressure to reconsider their plans to scrap the 50% travel discount that residents of the Balearics, Canary Islands and North African Melia and Ceuta currently receive.
Residents of Mallorca are entitled to this discount which can sometimes see flights become as cheap as €5-€10.
The plans to scrap the discount altogether have come about because of Spain's precarious economic situation but have been strongly opposed by airlines in the Balearics, opposition parties and consumer groups.
The central government are now discussing fixed discount rates for flights from Palma to either Barcelona or Madrid that will range from €70-€100 depending on the season.
The fears are that Mallorca and the Balearics will be cut off because of this new plan and that travelling to mainland Spain will no longer be as easy as before. This may have knock on effects for many businesses operating between Palma and Barcelona and also for the vast number of students studying in Catalunya.
The travel discount is only eligible to residents of the Balearics who also hold a passport from a European Union country. The potential UK referendum on the EU in 2017 will mean that British expats will lose whatever discount remains should the UK vote to leave.
