Severe thunderstorms swept across Mallorca on Sunday, forcing Palma’s Son Sant Joan airport to cancel at least 15 flights and delay more than 200 others, according to AENA and local outlet Crónica Balear. By 14:30 CEST the airport had logged 203 delayed operations—111 departures and 92 arrivals—while 13 flights were cancelled outright. Mallorca started the day under an orange weather alert, later downgraded to yellow, with the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) forecasting up to 25 l/m² of rain in one hour and possible hail. Low-level wind-shear and lightning obliged air-traffic controllers to extend separation minima, effectively reducing runway capacity during the late-morning peak when many pan-European leisure charters arrive. Neighbouring airports in Menorca and Ibiza remained fully operational, but the knock-on effect rippled through carriers’ network planning. EasyJet and Ryanair advised passengers to rebook without penalty, while Iberia and Air Europa activated “flexible ticket” policies for Madrid and Barcelona connections. Tour operators reported difficulty securing coaches and hotel rooms for stranded travellers because peak-season occupancy already exceeds 92 %. Business implications are notable: Palma handles significant volumes of incentive-travel groups and cruise-line crew changes. Delays jeopardised afternoon departures of several cruise vessels, compelling operators to re-route passengers to Valencia and Barcelona by air and bus. Freight forwarders also saw perishables departing later, raising cold-chain risks for Balearic horticulture exports. AENA said normal operations should resume once the storm band moves east but warned that residual delays could persist into Monday’s schedule reset. Corporate travel managers should monitor carrier alerts and consider rerouting via mainland hubs if meetings are time-critical.
Source: Crónica Balear
