Palma Airport Flight Delays: Why Bad Weather Causes Widespread Disruption
Thursday, August 28th, 2025
Flight delays at Palma Airport during storms
Travellers passing through Palma de Mallorca Airport have faced disruption this week, with almost 100 flights delayed in just a few hours and some services cancelled. Connections to Madrid, Barcelona, Luxembourg and many northern European cities were among the most affected.
Bad weather across the region impacts Palma
The recent problems have not been limited to Mallorca. Barcelona’s El Prat Airport has cancelled over 30 flights, particularly on routes to the Balearics, Paris, Milan and Lisbon. Menorca and Ibiza have also suffered cancellations, mainly affecting connections with Barcelona. With Palma Airport so closely linked to these destinations, delays and cancellations are inevitable.
Why flights are delayed by bad weather
Many passengers wonder why Palma Airport flight delays happen even when the sun is shining locally. The answer lies in how air traffic is managed across the wider region:
- Aircraft delays elsewhere: If a plane is stuck in Barcelona due to thunderstorms, its scheduled return flight from Palma will also be delayed.
- Air traffic restrictions: During heavy rain or storms, controllers often reduce the number of take-offs and landings allowed per hour to keep operations safe, creating longer waiting times.
- Rerouting for safety: Pilots must often avoid storm systems. This lengthens flight paths and causes congestion in already busy air corridors.
Passenger advice during disruption
Enaire, Spain’s air navigation authority, has urged passengers to check their flight status directly with airlines whenever storms are forecast. Carriers such as Vueling are attempting to rebook passengers, but long queues and waiting times are possible when delays build up across multiple airports.
Ongoing unsettled conditions
The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has warned of further heavy showers and thunderstorms in the eastern Mediterranean, meaning more disruption is likely in the coming days. While frustrating, these precautions are essential to keep passengers and crew safe in challenging weather.
As was the case yesterday, adverse weather is forecast due to #thunderstorms and #cumulonimbus clouds in the Eastern Region.
As the day progresses, operations on the flight routes to and from #Barcelona and #Palma de Mallorca airports could be affected.
If you are due to fly, please check the status of your flight with your airline.
We continue to monitor the weather updates from @AEMET_Esp.
28/08 11:24 Active warnings today and tomorrow in the Balearic Islands for rain and thunderstorms. Maximum warning level: orange.
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