Flight cancellations rise as Storm Emilia disrupts air travel
The number of cancelled flights in the Canary Islands continues to rise as Storm Emilia brings heavy rain and strong winds to the archipelago, causing disruption to air travel on Saturday. La Palma Airport has been the worst affected so far, according to airport operator AENA.
As reported by Europa Press, adverse weather conditions linked to the storm led to the cancellation of eleven inter-island flights during the day. In addition, one flight travelling from Madrid to Tenerife North was forced to divert due to the conditions.
La Palma Airport recorded the highest number of cancellations, with eight inter-island flights called off by midday. Earlier in the morning, two further flights were cancelled at La Gomera Airport, along with one inter-island flight at Tenerife North Airport.
These disruptions were compounded by the diversion of the Madrid–Tenerife North flight, highlighting the impact of strong winds and unstable weather on flight operations.
Although the first half of Saturday saw significant disruption, most Canary Island airports have since returned to normal operations as the day progressed. However, La Palma Airport continued to experience problems during the morning, with additional cancellations caused by wind gusts exceeding 90 kilometres per hour.
Storm Emilia has been affecting the Canary Islands with a combination of heavy rainfall, strong winds and dangerous sea conditions, prompting multiple alerts from the regional authorities. Alongside flight disruptions, the storm has led to ferry cancellations, rescues, flooding incidents and precautionary evacuations in some coastal areas.
Travellers are advised to check the status of their flights directly with airlines before heading to the airport and to allow extra time for their journeys. British tourists and residents should remain alert to official weather warnings, as further disruption remains possible while Storm Emilia continues to impact the islands.
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