N332 Travel Updates

Aviation and Travel Update: 1–4 September 2025

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A cold front and thunderstorms are disrupting flights across France, northern Italy, and Switzerland this week. Greece and Belgrade continue to face delays from controller shortages and strikes, while Spain remains under pressure with Palma and Barcelona especially busy. Ferries and trains are running on time but heavily booked.

General Flight Situation
  • Around 31,500 flights per day are forecast across Europe.
  • Main disruption points: Greek airspace (staff shortages), Belgrade (ATC industrial action), and southern France (capacity and storms).
  • Weather: A cold front stretches from France into central Europe, bringing thunderstorms across France, the Alps, and northern Italy. Unsettled skies also over the UK and Benelux, with showers and turbulence.
    • Flight Hotspots
    United Kingdom & Ireland
    • Heathrow & Gatwick: Arrival restrictions due to thunderstorms expected through Monday and Tuesday.
    • Newcastle: Staffing shortages overnight and early mornings.
    • Dublin: Risk of gusty winds and storms.
      • Spain
      • Barcelona: Morning ATC restrictions most days, thunderstorms possible Monday.
      • Madrid: Northern sectors limited in early mornings.
      • Palma (Mallorca): Declared hotspot Monday late morning, with heavy demand and storms.
      • Seville: High demand Tuesday and Wednesday late mornings and afternoons.
      • Gran Canaria: Ongoing runway works with occasional peak-time delays.
        • France & Switzerland
        • Marseille and Nice: Thunderstorms plus ATC restrictions Monday and Tuesday.
        • Paris Charles de Gaulle: Runway 09R/27L closed until December; delays at peak times.
        • Geneva: Reduced arrival capacity due to new airport system and thunderstorm risk.
          • Greece
          • Athens, Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Chania, Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos: Controller shortages and strong winds—expect high delays every day.
            • Balkans
            • Belgrade: Ongoing ATC industrial action until 30 September, reducing airspace capacity by ~10%. Delays moderate to high.
              • Italy & Central Europe
              • Milan and Rome: Storms likely Monday and Tuesday afternoons.
              • Vienna, Zurich, Munich: Thunderstorms and turbulence expected during peak hours.
              • Warsaw and Kraków: Air show restrictions in place all week, especially daytime.
                • Weather Highlights
                • Monday–Tuesday:
                  • Thunderstorms across France, northern Italy, Switzerland, southern Germany.
                  • Showers in UK, Benelux, Ireland.
                  • Turbulence risk across France, western Germany, and Benelux.
                  • Wednesday–Thursday: Weather begins to ease, but scattered storms remain possible in central Europe.
                    • Rail and Ferry Update

                    UK–Spain Ferries

                    • Portsmouth–Santander, Portsmouth–Bilbao, Plymouth–Santander: running normally but busy as end-of-summer travel continues.

                      • UK–France Ferries & Eurotunnel

                      • Busy conditions expected, especially midweek, with long waits at Dover, Calais, and Folkestone.

                        • Spanish Mainland–Canary Islands Ferries

                        • High demand but on-time. Departures from Cádiz and Huelva nearing full capacity.

                          • Eurostar & Eurotunnel

                          • Running to schedule, though services remain heavily booked after the UK Bank Holiday return rush. Allow extra time for security.

                            • Spain Rail

                            • Renfe AVE high-speed trains: Operating on time, but demand remains high between Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Málaga.
                            • Valencia–Tarragona overnight maintenance continues to affect some late services.

                              • The post Aviation and Travel Update: 1–4 September 2025 first appeared on N332 Radio.

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