This is getting really weird: this morning French and Spanish officials have denied refusing to let that plane in.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/03/edward-snowden-a...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/03/edward-snowden-a...
Seems to fit the picture perfectly well IMO.
The Spanish foreign ministry said they never denied landing or requested to inspect the plane (in Spanish soil).
Apparently the Spanish ambassador asked Evo Morales to allow the Austrian police to inspect the plane, and he finally did.
All this thing is confusing, indeed.
The quote from Morales in this article may be part of the source for the confusion, but as you say the Spanish press reports there was some delay, and I imagine Morales was pretty upset already. His quote seems to be lumping Spain in with the others.
What's your source for the Spanish press, if I may ask?
I realize that I'm not citing any great sources for what happened in Spain, I'm working on it...
Here's one that lists France, Portugal, and Italy as nations denying Morales access to their airspace: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/03/us-usa-security-sn...
In case you don't know Spanish press is completely partisan, some newspapers lie openly without any kind of remorse.
That said, I was reading El País (center-left) and it didn't look like they were blaming the Spanish government (conservatives) in this situation.
As I said, all this thing is confusing.
Source: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2013/07/03/act...
EDIT: according to the foreign ministry, Evo Morales was granted permission for a refuel stop in the Canary Islands on Tuesday and if that had to be reviewed and delayed until Wednesday was because other EU countries didn't authorise the plane to enter their aerial space.
Source: http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/1861995/0/margallo/evo-moral...
Updated at 14:40 UTC: landed at Las Palmas.