Storms cause major flight disruptions at Madrid and Barcelona airports

Severe storms in Spain have caused significant disruptions at the country's two largest airports, Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat. The inclement weather led to widespread flight delays, diversions, and cancellations.

In Madrid, approximately 700 flights experienced delays, representing about 52% of total operations, with several aircraft forced to divert to cities such as Zaragoza and Valencia. In Barcelona, the impact was particularly heavy, with at least 47 cancellations and over 500 delayed flights. Some passengers faced extended periods of waiting on aircraft or within the terminal.

Beyond aviation, the torrential rains caused broader issues in Catalonia, including disruptions to the Rodalies commuter rail service and power outages affecting approximately 5,000 subscribers. While weather conditions began to improve in some areas by Wednesday morning, meteorological agencies indicated that rain would persist in Barcelona through Friday.