N332 Travel Updates

Europe and Spain Flight and Long-Distance Travel Update – 21–24 August 2025

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Thunderstorms across Southern and Central Europe, air traffic strikes in Belgrade, and Greek controller shortages are set to disrupt flights this weekend. Spain will also see delays in Barcelona, Palma, and Seville. Ferries and trains are running normally but with very high demand.

General Situation
  • Around 35,300 flights per day expected across Europe.
  • Key disruptions: Severe thunderstorms across Central and Southern Europe, staffing shortages in Greek airspace, and industrial action in Belgrade (Serbia).
  • Military exercises: Ongoing in UK, Denmark, and Finland—low impact for commercial passengers but may cause rerouting.
    • Flight Hotspots
    United Kingdom & Ireland
    • London Gatwick: Morning arrival restrictions due to demand.
    • Manchester East Midlands: Brief restrictions Thursday morning.
    • Newcastle: Multiple staffing-related arrival restrictions at night and early mornings.
    • Heathrow airspace: En-route controller shortages Thursday lunchtime.
    • Scotland & Southern England: Storm Warrior 25-2 military exercise active 21 August morning, possibly causing reroutes.
      • Spain
      • Barcelona: Morning restrictions on arrivals and departures from air traffic capacity.
      • Madrid: Early morning limits in upper airspace.
      • Palma (Mallorca): Thunderstorms Thursday morning likely to cause delays.
      • Seville & Málaga: High demand with morning and early afternoon bottlenecks.
      • Gran Canaria: Runway works continue, leading to minor delays.
        • France & Switzerland
        • Bordeaux & Reims regions: Repeated ATC staffing shortages causing delays.
        • Paris Orly/Charles de Gaulle: Ongoing runway closure at CDG, delays during peak hours.
        • Geneva: Arrival capacity cut while a new operating system is phased in.
        • Marseille: Several regional airspace restrictions from capacity limits.
          • Greece
          • Severe pressure across the system:
            • Athens and island airports (Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Chania, Kerkyra) regulated most of the day.
            • Strong northerly winds expected in the Aegean.
            • Staffing shortages continue to drive very high delays.
              • Balkans & Central Europe
              • Belgrade: Industrial action by controllers until end of September. Expect moderate to high delays.
              • Croatia & Slovenia: Severe thunderstorms Thursday, especially Zagreb and Ljubljana sectors.
              • Budapest: Afternoon thunderstorms bringing high delays.
                • Elsewhere
                • Amsterdam Schiphol: Morning arrival restrictions due to high demand.
                • Milan, Rome, Vienna, Munich, Zurich: Localised thunderstorms and capacity bottlenecks expected through the weekend.
                • Malta, Lisbon & Porto: Overnight runway works continue, causing occasional delays.
                  • Weather Highlights
                  • Thursday 21 Aug:
                    • Heavy thunderstorms over northeast Spain and the Balearics in the morning.
                    • Severe storms across northern Italy, the Adriatic, Austria, Hungary, and the Balkans through the afternoon and evening.
                    • Storm cells likely in Barcelona, Palma, and Belgrade.
                    • Friday–Sunday: Unstable conditions continue across Central and Southern Europe. UK and northern France mostly clear with some showers.
                      • Rail and Ferry Update

                      UK–Spain Ferries:

                      • Portsmouth–Santander, Portsmouth–Bilbao, and Plymouth–Santander running normally. Thursday and Friday departures are heavily booked.

                        • UK–France Ferries & Eurotunnel:

                        • No major weather or strike disruption reported. Busy conditions expected through the weekend—especially Calais and Dover.

                          • Spain Mainland–Canary Islands Ferries:

                          • Operating normally, but long holiday queues expected at Cádiz and Huelva.

                            • Eurostar & Eurotunnel:

                            • Services on time, but sold close to capacity for the weekend. Arrive early for passport and security checks.

                              • Spain Rail:

                              • Renfe AVE high-speed: On-time, but late-weekend trains heavily booked.
                              • Valencia–Tarragona corridor: Overnight works continue to affect a small number of late services.

                                • The post Europe and Spain Flight and Long-Distance Travel Update – 21–24 August 2025 first appeared on N332 Radio.

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