Tenerife’s public transport network has entered a new era with the launch of the island’s first-ever double-decker buses, which began operating today, 1st July. The new vehicles are part of TITSA’s plans to increase passenger capacity and help ease congestion on some of the island’s busiest routes.
The first two buses have been introduced on Route 110 (Santa Cruz to Costa Adeje) and Route 112 (Santa Cruz to Los Cristianos). From next week, a further 11 double-decker buses will enter service, with some also operating on Route 108 between Santa Cruz and Icod de los Vinos.
Each new vehicle increases seating capacity from 59 to 85 passengers, providing around 44% more seats per journey. TITSA says the three routes carried approximately four million passengers in 2025, and the larger buses are expected to increase annual capacity to six million passengers, adding around two million extra seats each year.
Built specifically for Tenerife
Unlike conventional double-decker buses, these vehicles have been specially designed to cope with Tenerife’s mountainous roads and challenging terrain.
They also introduce several new safety technologies, including Alcolock, which prevents the bus from starting if the driver does not pass a mandatory breathalyser test before their shift.
Traditional mirrors have been replaced with MirrorCam camera systems, improving visibility, particularly at night and while turning.
Additional safety features include:
- Automatic emergency braking
- Lane departure warning via vibrations in the driver’s seat
- Blind spot detection for pedestrians and cyclists
- Seven onboard CCTV cameras covering both decks
Drivers receive specialist training
A dedicated training programme has been introduced for drivers operating the larger vehicles. Of the 90 drivers assigned to the new buses, 60 have already completed the specialist training.
TITSA Chief Executive Victoria Padilla said the launch follows months of planning involving the company’s operations, engineering, maintenance and training teams to ensure the buses entered service smoothly.
Part of a wider investment
The new double-decker buses form part of the Tenerife Cabildo’s ongoing investment in public transport.
Over the past three years, 351 new buses have joined the TITSA fleet through an investment of more than €125 million, reducing the average fleet age to around three years while cutting emissions by more than 7%.
The fleet renewal programme will continue later this year with the arrival of 57 additional buses, followed by 25 more intercity vehicles in 2027, including another five double-deckers, bringing Tenerife’s total fleet of double-decker buses to 18.