Strong winds battering Catalonia have caused significant disruption at Barcelona-El Prat Airport. Consequently, over 100 flight cancellations and widespread delays are affecting thousands of passengers this Thursday.
Airport operator Aena confirmed that, as of Thursday afternoon, 101 flights scheduled to depart from or arrive at the Catalan capital had been cancelled. In addition, ten aircraft were unable to land and had to divert to alternative airfields. Most were sent to Madrid, while others went to Girona and Valencia.
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Home » Barcelona Airport Flight Cancellations: 100 Flights Grounded by Strong Winds
Operational Restrictions and Safety Measures for Barcelona Airport Flight Cancellations
The severe weather has forced air traffic controllers and airport officials to reduce the flow of aircraft to ensure safety. Aena reported that whilst around 200 flights had managed to operate by mid-day, most experienced delays. This was because operators were required to space out landings and take-offs.
At various points during the day, the airport was forced to operate with a single runway. This restriction allowed ground crews to conduct constant safety reviews. They also cleared any debris or foreign objects blown onto the tarmac by the gusts.
Wind speeds at the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat facility reached maximum gusts of 92.5 kilometres per hour earlier in the day. Although the winds have begun to subside slightly, allowing operations to continue within safety limits, the backlog of approximately 600 pending scheduled movements suggests disruption will continue well into the evening.
Advice for Passengers Affected by Barcelona Airport Flight Cancellations
Aena has advised all passengers to exercise extreme caution when travelling to the airport. Therefore, they should contact their airlines directly to check the status of their flights before setting off.
Airlines are already responding to the crisis. Vueling, one of the primary carriers at El Prat, announced it is offering flexibility and free changes to customers with flights departing or arriving in Barcelona and Palma—which is also suffering delays—until 15:00 today.
Weather Outlook and Wider Disruption
The disruption extends beyond the airport, with the wind storm impacting roads and the Rodalies commuter train network across the region. Similar to the red wind alert and activated emergency protocols issued by Civil Protection, this has caused widespread disruptions.
Sarai Sarroca, director of the Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya (Meteocat), warned that the region was experiencing a “peak moment” of wind early on Thursday. Forecasters expect these adverse conditions to persist until at least 19:00. If predictions hold and wind speeds drop below critical operational thresholds, Aena expects the airport to progressively recover normality in the coming hours.
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