N332 Travel Updates

Aviation and Travel Update: 29–31 August 2025

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This weekend brings peak holiday crowds and stormy skies. Palma and Barcelona face severe thunderstorms and high demand, while Greece and Belgrade continue to struggle with air traffic control issues. Ferries, Eurostar, and Spain’s high-speed trains are all operating but sold out on most routes.

General Flight Situation
  • Around 35,900 flights a day forecast across Europe.
  • Barcelona is a hot spot for delays.
  • Key risks: thunderstorms over Spain, France, Italy and Germany; staffing shortages in Greece; continuing industrial action in Belgrade; and very high seasonal demand across Spain as the holiday season peaks.
  • Military exercises in Denmark and Finland (low impact for passengers).
    • Flight Hotspots
    United Kingdom & Ireland
    • Heathrow and Gatwick: At risk of delays from thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday.
    • Manchester and Newcastle: Early morning staffing issues at Newcastle could cause minor arrival delays.
    • Dublin: Showers and gusty winds continue through Friday as ex-Hurricane Erin tracks north.
      • Spain
      • Barcelona: Morning and midday restrictions from air traffic control capacity. Storms possible Friday and Saturday.
      • Madrid: Northern airspace limits in early mornings.
      • Palma de Mallorca: Declared hotspot with strong thunderstorms forecast through Friday and Saturday. Very high demand expected.
      • Seville and Málaga: Busy airspace late mornings with moderate delays.
      • Gran Canaria: Ongoing runway works with minor peak delays.
        • France & Neighbours
        • Paris Charles de Gaulle: Runway 09R/27L remains closed, causing capacity limits at peak hours.
        • Nice and Marseille: Risk of storms and airspace restrictions Friday morning.
        • Geneva & Zurich: Storms may cause arrival restrictions Saturday. Geneva also operating with reduced runway capacity.
        • Bordeaux & Reims: Ongoing staffing restrictions.
          • Greece
          • Athens and islands (Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Mykonos, Santorini, Chania, Corfu): Staff shortages and strong winds mean long delays are expected daily.
            • Balkans
            • Belgrade: Industrial action continues, reducing capacity by about 10%. Delays expected across Serbian airspace.
              • Italy & Central Europe
              • Milan, Rome, Venice: Frequent thunderstorms, especially afternoons and evenings.
              • Vienna & Munich: Storms likely Saturday.
              • Warsaw & Kraków: Air show restrictions running all weekend; avoid if possible.
                • Weather Highlights
                • Friday–Saturday:
                  • Severe thunderstorms across northern Spain (Barcelona, Mallorca), southern France, northern Italy, Switzerland, Germany.
                  • Turbulence risk over France, Benelux and southern Scandinavia.
                  • Sunday: Weather begins to ease, though afternoon storms remain possible in southern Europe.
                    • Rail and Ferry Update

                    UK–Spain Ferries

                    • Portsmouth–Santander, Portsmouth–Bilbao, Plymouth–Santander running normally, but sailings heavily booked for the weekend return rush.

                      • UK–France Ferries & Eurotunnel

                      • Very busy Friday–Monday. No weather cancellations expected, but long queues at Dover, Calais and Folkestone.

                        • Spanish Mainland–Canary Islands Ferries

                        • Cádiz and Huelva departures on time, but all weekend sailings are at or near full capacity.

                          • Eurostar & Eurotunnel

                          • Running normally, but full capacity reached on most weekend services. Allow plenty of time for check-in and security.

                            • Spain Rail

                            • Renfe AVE trains between Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga are heavily booked Friday–Sunday.
                            • Some trains suspended due to wildfire risks (check with your operator).
                            • Valencia–Tarragona overnight maintenance continues with minor impact.

                              • The post Aviation and Travel Update: 29–31 August 2025 first appeared on N332 Radio.

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