The powerful storm battering Catalonia forced air-traffic managers at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat to implement flow-control measures on 3 October, reducing hourly movement capacity and leading to multiple cancellations and delays of up to four hours, according to Agencia EFE. Air-traffic-controller union USCA said thunderstorms above the Mediterranean had “dramatically reduced” available flight paths, obliging pilots to hold or reroute around convective cells. Airlines including Vueling, Iberia and Ryanair proactively cancelled late-evening rotations to avoid crews exceeding duty-time limits. Aena, the airport operator, advised passengers to check flight status before heading to the terminals and worked with the Red Cross to provide cots and blankets to more than 200 stranded travellers overnight. Cargo operators reported knock-on effects at Madrid-Barajas and Zaragoza freight hubs as express parcels missed connecting flights. The disruption comes at the start of Spain’s peak conference season, with the International Property Fair (Barcelona Meeting Point) due to open on 6 October. Event organisers are offering free date changes to exhibitors unable to reach the city. Travel-management companies recommend rerouting through Valencia or Girona airports and warn that slot scarcity could persist for 48 hours as airlines reposition aircraft and crews.
Source: Agencia EFE
