A significant power outage affecting extensive regions in Spain and Portugal has wreaked havoc on travel plans, leading to numerous flight cancellations and disruptions across various transportation systems. The blackout struck unexpectedly just after midday local time and has been most detrimental in key travel hubs like Lisbon, Madrid, and Barcelona. According to reports, the chaos led to the grounding of an estimated 96 flights operating from Portuguese airports, thereby severely impacting the capital city of Lisbon, which recorded the highest number of cancellation incidents. In addition to this, about 45 flights were reported cancelled in Spain, with major airports in Barcelona and Madrid bearing the brunt of the disruption.
As of the writing of this report, the root cause of the power disruption remained unrevealed. While some electrical supplies were beginning to be restored, the head of Spain’s electricity grid indicated that full power restoration could take anywhere between six and ten hours. This information highlights the gravity of the situation faced by both country’s transportation systems, as businesses and travelers awaited clarity on flight status and transport availability.
The sustaining blackout has caused significant interruptions to public transport networks. Reports indicate that railway services were cancelled and traffic light malfunctions led to a request from Madrid’s mayor urging residents to keep roadways clear, particularly as certain highway tunnels were closed due to the power failure. The aviation analytics firm Cirium provided additional details, indicating that Lisbon’s airport had seen the highest cancellation rates, constituting approximately 29.6% of total departures by Monday evening. Furthermore, nine direct flights from the UK to Portugal were grounded due to the power issues.
To compound the problem, Lisbon airport’s limitations on flight handling and capacity have led to a backlog, halting incoming flights and causing delays in scheduled operations. On the other hand, while airlines in Portugal were facing numerous challenges, routes from the UK to Spain appeared to remain unaffected as no flights were cancelled from that direction.
Amidst these complications, aviation expert David Gleave sought to clarify that any interruptions in power supply at airports do not typically impact air traffic control measures, thanks to backup battery systems that activate immediately. This safety net ensures that safe airplane operations can continue with the help of diesel-powered generators meant to sustain air traffic control services until regular power supply is restored.
Furthermore, Enaire, Spain’s air navigation organization, confirmed that operations were continuing across their five control centers thanks to backup generators. They emphasized that necessary regulations were being followed to uphold complete safety during the power outage. Spain’s national airline, Iberia, also reassured travelers via social media that though numerous airports faced challenges due to the blackout, their operational systems were at full capacity.
In light of the disruptions, Iberia has extended options to passengers whose travel plans might have been disrupted on this day. While some flights maintained service, travelers grappling with ground transport issues have faced challenges in reaching airports due to the widespread disruptions.
As the situation unfolds, Spain’s Transport Minister Oscar Puente mentioned that a return to normal service for medium and long-distance trains was not anticipated for the immediate future, although efforts would be made to restore local commuter services as soon as power was available. Rescue operations were also reportedly in progress to assist those passengers trapped on halted train services. Overall, the ramifications of the outage have been extensive, sparking a wave of troubles in travel and transport within these two Iberian nations.