Travel chaos hits Madeira as strong winds shut down airport operations

Severe weather brought operations at Madeira International Airport Cristiano Ronaldo to a near standstill on Thursday, April 9, 2026, after powerful winds made landings unsafe and triggered widespread disruption.

With gusts reaching up to 98 km/h near the runway, at least 70 flights were cancelled, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and forcing several aircraft already en route to turn back mid-journey.

Flights grounded and aircraft forced to return

By mid-morning, the scale of the disruption had become clear. According to ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, no plane had successfully landed since just after 2:00 AM.

A total of 20 arrivals and 20 departures scheduled for the day were cancelled early on, but the situation quickly escalated. In an unusual development, five international flights bound for Madeira were forced to reverse course while already in the air.

Among them were four aircraft operated by easyJet, departing from Basel, Geneva, London and Berlin, as well as a flight from Leipzig operated by Marabu Airlines.

These planes turned back while flying over parts of France, Spain or near the Portuguese coastline, highlighting how rapidly conditions deteriorated.

Why is Madeira Airport so vulnerable to wind

Madeira’s main airport is known among pilots as one of Europe’s most challenging landing environments. Its coastal location and short runway, partially built on pillars over the ocean, make it particularly sensitive to strong crosswinds.

When gusts exceed safety limits, pilots are forced to abort landings or avoid attempting them altogether. In many cases, flights are diverted to nearby alternatives such as Porto Santo, the Canary Islands or Faro.

However, recent patterns suggest an increasing number of flights are opting to return to their departure airports instead of diverting – a decision that adds further delays for passengers.

A brief window of relief later in the day

After hours of disruption, conditions improved slightly in the late afternoon. Between 4:00 PM and 10:30 PM, a limited number of operations resumed, allowing 16 arrivals and 16 departures to take place.

Even so, delays remained significant, and the backlog of passengers continued to affect schedules well into the evening.

Growing pressure on island connectivity

The incident once again highlights the vulnerability of air travel to Madeira during periods of extreme weather. As an island heavily dependent on aviation, prolonged disruptions can quickly ripple across tourism and local mobility.

For travellers, the situation serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of flying to destinations with complex geography – where even routine journeys can be disrupted by sudden changes in wind conditions.