Disruptions cause chaos in Spain and Portugal as flight cancellations and train system shutdowns ensue due to power outages.
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Fuckin' chaos at airports and train stations in Spain and Portugal! A massive power outage on Monday caused a nationwide blackout, halting trains and causing major travel disruption. Red Eléctrica, the Spanish power distributor, said it could take up to 10 hours to restore power to large parts of the countries and neighboring Portugal.
Capital cities Madrid, Lisbon, Seville, Barcelona, and Valencia have been left in the dark and offline, causing transport networks to plummet into chaos. Eduardo Prieto, Red Eléctrica's head of operations, called the power outage "unprecedented" and "exceptional."
Let's discuss the flight disruption:
Airlines, like EasyJet, have experienced significant flight cancellations, with around 200 flights mainly to and from Lisbon suspended so far[3]. While airports are operating on backup generators, it's a mess. Madrid airport has seen many flights to domestic destinations and to/from Portugal cancelled, and there could be further schedule changes overnight if power isn't restored soon. Flights to the US from Madrid and Lisbon are severely delayed, and overnight flights to Latin America could be affected if the outage lasts. Meanwhile, Barcelona Airport international flights are operating with a one or two-hour delay, and many domestic flights have been axed.
But it's not all bad news. Airports in the Canary and Balearic Islands have not been affected, and Alicante and Malaga don't seem to be severely affected either[3].
What about those stuck trains?
Train services in both countries have ground to a halt, with trains unable to depart from stations. Spain's railway operator, Renfe, announced that the entire National Electricity Grid was cut off[4]. Puente, the Transport Minister, said it wasn't likely that medium and long-distance train services would resume today, but shorter-distance, commuter services may start up once the electricity supply is restored[4]. It could take quite some time for rail services to get back to normal as control systems need to recover and trains will need to be repositioned.
It's worth noting that some parts of France also experienced power outages but, luckily, their trains don't seem to have been affected[4].
Bottom Line
Stay up-to-date with your flight status and local travel advice. EasyJet is offering free-of-charge transfers within 72 hours or a flight voucher for passengers stranded in Spain and Portugal[3]. Don't go to stations until further notice, and be prepared for prolonged delays. The power outage is a significant setback for travel plans, but we'll get through this together. Keep your cool, and good luck!
Related:- Ryanair cancels flights to major airports in Denmark- European airports finally surpassing pre-Covid passenger levels
Keywords: travel warning, delay, travel update, Airport, Spain, Portugal, unplanned outage, train disruptions, power cuts, flight cancellations.
[1] "Spain suffers massive power blackout, leaving millions in the dark" - Al Jazeera, April 28, 2025 [2] "Flights affected as blackout wreaks havoc in Spain, Portugal" - BBC News, April 28, 2025 [3] "EasyJet offers free transfers to passengers stranded in Spain" - BBC News, April 28, 2025 [4] "Train services in Spain and Portugal thrown into chaos amid blackout" - The Guardian, April 28, 2025
- The power outage in Spain and Portugal has caused a significant WhatsApp conversation among travelers, as the disruption has affected flight schedules and train services, causing general-news headlines.
- Weather forecasts indicate possible further complications for travel, as some flights to the US from Madrid and Lisbon are already severely delayed, and overnight flights to Latin America could be affected if the outage lasts.
- In a bid to assist passengers stranded due to the travel disruption, EasyJet is offering free-of-charge transfers or flight vouchers within 72 hours to those caught in the unplanned outage in Spain and Portugal.
- As a result of the power cuts and subsequent train disruptions, it seems that lifestyle choices revolving around travel plans have experienced a considerable setback, with a number of people left waiting and seeking alternative means of transportation - a situation made more troublesome by the ongoing weather conditions.
