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Irish Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Travel warning issued to tourists amid huge power outage in Spain and Portugal
Irish tourists have been caught up in widespread travel chaos after Spain and Portugal were hit by a massive power outage which has left millions without electricity and brought both countries to a standstill. The blackout late on Monday morning caused traffic lights and subway systems to suddenly fail, and has led to severe disruptions to air travel to and from both popular holiday destinations. Aena, the Spanish-owned company that manages its airports, has said that Madrid Barajas Airport - the busiest air hub on the Iberian peninsula - has been hit hardest by the power outage, with flight cancellations and delays. "Due to the power outage, some incidents are occurring at the airports," the Spanish airport operator said in a statement. "Contingency generators are active. Please check with your airline, as there may be disruptions to access and ground transportation." Lisbon Airport has reportedly told passengers to leave and contact their airline provider, and there is currently a zero rate for arrivals to avoid overcrowding in the already packed terminals. Portuguese carrier TAP Air Portugal said in a statement: 'Due to the power cut in several European countries, the operation of airports is temporarily very limited. TAP requests that you do not go to the airport until further information.' A flight set to depart from Dublin Airport to Lisbon at 6.50pm has been cancelled due to the power outages, while two flights set to arrive at the Irish airport from the Portuguese capital later this evening have also cancelled. The status of other major airports across the Iberian Peninsula remains unclear, although it is understood that the Balearic and Canary Islands, and Madeira remain unaffected by the blackout. While some of the airports affected by the power outage have been able to partially restore power supplies through the use of onsite generators, the blackout is likely to cause significant disruption to aviation for hours and possibly days, to come, due to knock-on effects following flight delays and cancellations. Carriers operating flights to and from Ireland have confirmed that they're monitoring the ongoing situation, and passengers are advised to check with their airline and keep up to date with airport's websites. In a statement posted to their website, Ryanair said: "We are monitoring potential disruption to flights operating to/from all airports in Spain and Portugal. "We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of this power outage, which is outside of our control." Following the major power outage, the Department of Foreign Affairs updated their travel advice for holidaymakers travelling to and from Spain and Portugal. For Spain, they said: 'The Embassy of Ireland, Madrid, is aware of widespread electricity outages across Spain. We recommend following the instructions of the local authorities at all times.' The Embassy of Ireland in Lisbon shared a similar message on their Facebook page as they said: "Embassy Lisbon is aware of ongoing issues affecting the power grid in Portugal. Please follow the instructions of the local authorities. In case of emergency, please contact DFAT +35314082000." The UK Foreign Office also updated its advice to travellers on Monday afternoon to say: "We are aware of reports of power outages across Andorra, mainland Spain and mainland Portugal and are monitoring the situation. "There may be travel disruption, check with your tour operator or airline for more information before travelling. Follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor local updates." Spanish power grid operator Red Electrica says it is working with energy companies to restore power in the area. However it has warned recovery could take up to 10 hours. In a statement on X, the operator said that protocols had been activated to "restore electricity supply in collaboration with sector companies following the blackout that occurred in the peninsular system." "The causes are being analysed, and all resources are being dedicated to resolving it," they added.
Metro
28-04-2025
- Metro
Your rights if Spain and Portugal's power outage has affected your flight
A major power outage affecting Spain, Portugal and parts of France is causing chaos, with traffic lights going dark, phonelines down and entire subway systems grinding to a halt. No reason has been given for the issue, which is also affecting flights in and out of the two countries. Air traffic is now reportedly operating at 'half capacity' across Spain due to the widespread power outage and flights scheduled to depart from Valencia and Barcelona are now listed online as delayed or cancelled. Madrid Barajas Airport has been hit hardest, with Aena, the Spanish-owned company that manages its airports, posting a statement to their website 'Due to the power outage, some incidents are occurring at the airports. Contingency generators are active,' reads the warning. 'Please check with your airline, as there may be disruptions to access and ground transportation.' Passengers at Barcelona airport have also taken to X to share the 'very unsettling' moment that the entire airport was suddenly plunged into darkness. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. In a statement posted to their website, Ryanair said they are keeping a close-eye on the ongoing situation. 'We are monitoring potential disruption to flights operating to/from all airports in Spain and Portugal,' reads the statement. 'We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of this power outage, which is outside of our control.' Follow our live blog for the latest updates on the Spain and Portugal power outage According to the Civil Aviation Authority, UK and EU airlines must look after you if your flight is delayed or cancelled. This includes everything from meals and accommodation to an alternative flight if necessary. Citizen's Advice says that airlines should also give impacted passengers access to phone calls and emails and, if they offer you a play to stay, organise the journeys between the hotel and the airport. Sometimes, the airline will cover this by handing you vouchers at the airport. When in doubt, keep any receipts for expenses and claim them back afterwards from the airliner. But an airliner will only cough up money for 'reasonable' expenses. The hotel minibar or penthouse suites likely can't be expensed. If you didn't book with a UK or EU airline, you'll need to check their terms and conditions. Though, for the most part, airlines should provide meals and accommodation as appropriate. Whether you're eligible for the above depends on the distance of your flight and how long you have waited: For short-haul (up to 1,500km over two hours or less) you must have been waiting for two hours or more. For medium-haul (between 1,500km and 3,500km over two to four hours) it's three hours or more. For long-haul (more than 3,500km over four hours or more) it's four hours or more. If your flight is covered by UK law, you can choose between either getting your cancelled flight refunded or being booked on an alternative route. Any part of your ticket you haven't used is eligible for a refund. So, if you were on a return flight to Heathrow and the outbound leg was cancelled, you can get that part of the journey refunded. You'll typically get your money back within a week. But not everyone is up for being stuck mid-layover. If you still want to travel, your airline must find a way to get you to your destination. This can include, say, if another airliner is flying to where you need to go soon or if there's another form of transport you can take. All at no extra cost. Check if the company you booked with is a member of ABTA, a trade association for tour operators and travel agents. It has a guide here on what you can do if your flight has been cancelled. A country-wide power outage isn't exactly an everyday thing, so this is what the law calls 'extraordinary circumstances'. This can include a fire, bad weather, bird strikes or defects with a plane. But none of these entitles impacted passengers to extra compensation, consumer watchdog Which? says. They're largely considered outside the airline's control. In other circumstances, however, it's a different story. You have several rights under the law if your journey is impacted by staff shortages, airline staff walkouts or if your flight was delayed because bad weather delayed a previous flight. What you're entitled to depends on the cause of the cancellation and how much notice the airline gave you. This can range from £220 for short-haul flights, £350 for mid-haul and £520 for long-haul. There might be things you do end up paying for. But you might be able to claim for them afterwards. More Trending This can include unused accommodation, where you'll need to contact your credit card provider or a travel insurance firm. As much as 94% of travel insurance policies travel abandonment, only 30% include wider travel disruption, according to analysts Defaqto. Travel insurance doesn't cover any loss of earnings if the delayed or cancelled flight means you can't work. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Madrid Open suspended as power outage in Spain forces players off court MORE: British man's sudden death 'hard to comprehend' after fall from bike in Majorca MORE: Jet2 flight forced to land mid-air after unruly passengers cause disruption
