Thousands of travellers will have their journeys disrupted today following a major power outage across Spain and Portugal.
Yesterday, the largest blackout in recent European history hit the Iberian Peninsula around 12.30pm local time, causing widespread chaos.
Traffic lights went dark, mobile phone coverage cut out and the transport industry ground to a halt in tourist cities such as Barcelona, Madrid and Lisbon. The cause of the outage remains unclear.
As power flickers back, more than 40 flights have been cancelled from Spain and Portugal’s major airports.
Here is the full list of flights affected.
What flights have been cancelled?
Departures at Madrid International Airport
06:00, 29 Apr Paris
07:20 29 Apr Porto
10:05 29 Apr ATL Atlanta
10:05 29 Apr ATL Atlanta
10:05 29 Apr ATL Atlanta
10:05 29 Apr ATL Atlanta
Departures at Barcelona International Airport
06:20 29 Apr BRU Brussels
07:00 29 Apr BRU Brussels
10:35 29 Apr EMA Nottingham
12:10 29 Apr BRU Brussels
12:10 29 Apr BRU Brussels
15:10 29 Apr BRU Brussels
16:10 29 Apr CRL Brussels
Departures at Lisbon Airport
06:35 29 Apr Madrid
06:40 29 Apr London, Gatwick
06:45 29 Apr Frankfurt
07:05 29 Apr Warsaw
07:15 29 Apr Brussels
07:15 29 Apr London, Heathrow
07:15 29 Apr Milan, Malpensa
07:25 29 Apr Tanger
07:55 29 Apr Berlin, Brandenburg
08:15 29 Apr Montreal, Trudeau
08:50 29 Apr Rome, Fiumicino
10:00 29 Apr New York, JFK
10:25 29 Apr Newark
10:40 29 Apr Eindhoven
11:20 29 Apr Barcelona
11:25 29 Apr Brussels, Charleroi
11:40 29 Apr Ponta Delgada
12:20 29 Apr Washington, Dulles
12:45 29 Apr Boston
14:15 29 Apr Dubai
15:25 29 Apr Santa Clara
16:20 29 Apr Brussels
17:15 29 Apr Malta, Luqa
17:55 29 Apr Dubai
18:00 29 Apr Brussels, Charleroi
Departures at Porto Airport
06:30 29 Apr Madeira T
09:20 29 Apr Brussels, Charleroi
12:35 29 Apr Newark
16:50 29 Apr Brussels
18:05 29 Apr Newark
Sign up to The Getaway newsletter
Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here.
What has the Foreign Office said about cancelled flights?
The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Spain amid the power outage.
It said: ‘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.’
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled?
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. You can read our full report here.
Could a blackout ever happen in the UK?
Chris Owens is the marketing manager for Riello UPS, which manufactures power supplies and other standby power solutions.
In 2019, the company created the Blackout Report, examining the odds of the UK going dark and the consequences of this happening.
‘When you look at the events in Portugal and Spain and wonder “could that happen here in the UK?”, it’s still highly unlikely,’ explains Owens.
‘There’s never been a complete failure of the UK’s electricity network, our power grid is reliable and robust.’
Metro’s Josh Milton analyses what could happen here.
MORE: Map reveals cities affected by the power outages in Spain and Portugal
MORE: Mystery over cause of massive power outage across Spain and Portugal
MORE: Tennis star ‘stuck in lift’ during Madrid Open power outage with play cancelled
#Full #list #cancelled #flights #power #outage #plunges #Spain #Portugal #darkness
