On Monday, a widespread power failure paralyzed both Spain and Portugal, bringing train services to a halt and leading to significant disruptions at airports.
At midnight, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a state of emergency, one that remains effective as of now.
Electricity was reinstated across additional regions during the night, as reported by Red Eléctrica, which partially owns and manages Spain’s national electricity network. They stated that 99.16 percent of the nation’s power supply has been successfully restored today. Meanwhile, Portugal has completely bounced back from the blackout, according to official reports.
Although electricity has been reinstated in numerous areas, the residual impacts of the blackout continue to affect transportation in both Spain and Portugal. Below is essential information for travelers regarding train services and flight operations in these countries today.
Are flights continuing to experience delays at Spanish and Portuguese airports?
A power outage caused chaos at airports in Spain and Portugal on Monday. No airports were fully closed as
airports
were functioning using backup power.
While power has now been restored, knock-on effects from yesterday’s cancelled and delayed flights mean the disruption is ongoing today.
Following a posting on X, Aena—the entity overseeing 56 Spanish airports—stated that all of their facilities continue to operate normally.
“We recommend that passengers check the status of public transportation services arriving at the airports and consult with their airline about their flight status regarding possible rescheduling from yesterday,” the group added.
This evening, airports have modified their timetables to accommodate the needs of passengers with rescheduled flights, and the concourses remain relatively empty.
Enaire, which manages air navigation in Spain, stated that air traffic control operations have resumed their regular functioning at the three centers impacted by the power failure: Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville.
Even so, numerous flights departing from Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville faced cancellations or delays earlier today as operations gradually resumed. Minor holdups continue into the afternoon.
Enaire recommends that travelers verify the status of their flight with their airline prior to heading to the airport.
In Portugal, the government has stated that all airports are currently operational, even though certain restoration activities continue in Lisbon.
Several flights at Lisbon Airport were canceled this morning, and many others experienced delays which persisted through the afternoon.
The airport authority recommends that travelers get in touch with their carrier prior to arriving at the terminal.
What are my entitlements if my flight gets canceled or postponed?
More than 500 flights throughout Spain and Portugal were canceled on Monday because of the system failure.
A total of 185 departures from Portuguese airports were halted, and 187 arrivals were canceled.
According to aviation data firm Cirium, at Spanish airports, 205 outbound flights and 208 inbound flights were canceled.
Lisbon experienced the most significant impact with 45 percent of departures halted. In Seville, one-third of departures were canceled, whereas Madrid and Barcelona both reported roughly 50 cancellations for outgoing flights.
Should you have been impacted by the disruption, you might qualify for compensation under the ‘ Denied Boarding Regulations’, states Ernesto Suarez, CEO of the travel insurance firm.
Gigasure
.
Based on your situation, you might get financial assistance for alternate transportation, meals, and lodging if needed. Learn more about your entitlements here.
here
.
EasyJet provides complimentary transportation for passengers who are stuck.
Yesterday, EasyJet issued a statement indicating that the outage was affecting access to certain areas.
airports
And impacting its flights in Lisbon, Madrid, and Barcelona.
“As with every airline, we’re facing certain disruptions to our flight schedule which means some returning trips from Lisbon and Madrid haven’t been able to take place,” stated the company. “However, our operations continue smoothly at Porto and Faro airports according to plan.”
The airline advised travelers to keep an eye on local travel guidance and use flight tracking tools for the latest information.
It is also mentioned that travelers in Spain or Portugal who cannot embark on their journey will be offered complimentary transportation services within a 72-hour window or an alternative option.
flight voucher
as reported by the BBC.
Visitors excluded from Airbnb rentals due to power outage
A power outage stranded several travelers who were accommodated in Spain and Portugal since the electronic locks on their Airbnb doors ceased functioning.
A tourist from Paris who was on vacation in Portugal posted on X stating that the door code for their rental property wasn’t functioning.
BBC interviewed a pair from the U.S. who went through a comparable experience and mentioned they roamed the streets of Madrid for four hours at night, searching for a place to rest.
Railway services in Spain and Portugal are gradually resuming their regular operations.
Railway operations in both nations experienced disruption yesterday, with the electricity failure continuing to affect train services today.
Spanish emergency services reported rescuing approximately 35,000 passengers who were trapped in railway and subway networks on Monday due to halted train operations. Numerous travelers turned to thumbing rides or walked long distances to get home.
The Spanish railway operator Renfe has stated that urban train services will continue as follows:
Madrid
will function at half of its usual capacity today.
Fast and extensive services linking Madrid with Barcelona, Valencia, Murcia, Alicante, the Basque Country, and Algeciras have returned to their regular schedules.
It has been reported that there have been gatherings and extensive lines at railway stations where travelers whose journeys were canceled tried to switch to different routes or reissue their tickets.
Train services remain halted in the Galicia and Extremadura regions, whereas operations have been reinstated in the Basque Country, Valencia, Zaragoza, Seville, and Asturias zones albeit with minor delays.
Throngs packed the stations as the metro systems in Madrid and Lisbon restarted their services.
The metro services in Madrid have likewise returned to regular operation.
Partially operational service started at 8:00 AM today, with approximately 80 percent of trains running during peak hours.
Currently, the entire network, with Line 7A remaining shut as of earlier today, is reported to be operating normally, stated Jorge Rodrigo Dominguez, who serves as Madrid’s minister for housing, transport, and infrastructure.
“All the lines of EMTmadrid and Interurbanos are 100 per cent operational and will be free throughout the day,” Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Community of
Madrid
, wrote on X.
The six transportation hubs in the area continue to operate as usual.
The Barcelona metro has resumed operations with service returning to normal levels, as reported by local officials.
Following a difficult night for many trapped on trains or dozing in stations, substantial lines and considerable disarray are expected as individuals strive to return home.
The railway system in Portugal was similarly affected by the blackout; however, passengers were prepared for delays because of a nationwide strike that had halted train operations on Monday. The authorities have stated that electricity has since been restored to the national transportation grid.
The metro services in Lisbon and Porto have resumed operations, though passengers may experience slight delays.
Even though certain areas experienced disruptions
France
, trains also haven’t appeared to be impacted.
“In France, residences experienced brief power outages lasting several minutes in the Basque Country. Power supply has now been fully reinstated,” stated RTE, the French electrical utility company.
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