N332 Travel Updates

Weekend Flight and Travel Update: 23–24 August 2025

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This weekend, flights across Europe face delays from thunderstorms in Spain, Italy, and the Balkans, alongside air traffic staff shortages in Greece and strikes in Belgrade. Spain’s Palma airport is a declared hotspot. Ferries and trains remain on schedule but will be extremely busy.

General Flight Situation
  • Around 33,400 flights expected on Saturday.
  • Main disruptions: ATC staff shortages in Greece, industrial action in Serbia (Belgrade airspace), and isolated thunderstorms in Spain, the Balearics, and Italy.
  • Military exercises in Denmark and Finland continue but with little impact on commercial flights.
    • Flight Hotspots
    United Kingdom & Ireland
    • Gatwick (London): Afternoon arrival restrictions from high demand.
    • Newcastle: Several periods of staffing shortages leading to possible overnight and early morning delays.
    • South of England & Wales airspace: High demand sectors on Saturday morning, which may slow departures from Heathrow, Gatwick, and Bristol.
    • Manchester departures: Brief flow restrictions early morning on Saturday.
      • Spain
      • Barcelona airspace: High demand from 08:00–15:00, leading to delays on morning and midday flights.
      • Madrid: Early morning capacity restrictions.
      • Palma de Mallorca: Declared hotspot due to high passenger demand and thunderstorms forecast, especially Saturday morning and afternoon.
      • Seville and Southern Spain: Multiple sectors under high demand between 09:00–14:00, creating likely delays.
      • Gran Canaria: Ongoing runway works continue to cause small delays.
        • France & Switzerland
        • Paris Charles de Gaulle: One main runway remains closed for long-term works, limiting capacity at busy times.
        • Reims & Strasbourg regions: Staffing shortages and capacity restrictions through Saturday, particularly in the morning and early afternoon.
        • Geneva: Reduced arrival capacity due to a new operating system; delays possible at peak hours.
        • Marseille: Airspace restrictions in place, with limited rerouting options.
          • Greece
          • Athens and Islands (Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Santorini, Chania, Corfu): Arrivals heavily regulated all day due to controller shortages and high traffic. Long delays expected.
          • Aegean winds: Strong northerly gusts may add weather disruption.
            • Balkans
            • Belgrade airspace: Industrial action continues, reducing airspace capacity by around 10%. Expect moderate to high delays, especially at peak times.
              • Elsewhere
              • Amsterdam Schiphol: Arrival restrictions early morning on Saturday.
              • Lisbon: Busy Saturday afternoon arrivals.
              • Milan and Rome: Thunderstorms forecast, likely to slow evening arrivals.
              • Warsaw & Kraków: Night-time works causing overnight disruption.
                • Weather Highlights
                • Saturday 23 August:
                  • Spain & Balearics: Thunderstorms likely in Barcelona, Palma, and Menorca.
                  • Italy (Milan, Rome): Thunderstorms expected Saturday evening.
                  • Germany & Poland (Berlin, Hamburg, Warsaw): Showers and isolated storms.
                  • Nordics & Baltics: Showers and storms in Stockholm, Helsinki, and Copenhagen.
                  • Sunday 24 August: Weather calmer, but storm risk remains across southern Europe.
                    • Rail and Ferry Update

                    UK–Spain Ferries

                    • Services from Portsmouth and Plymouth to Santander and Bilbao operating normally, but sailings are heavily booked.

                      • UK–France Ferries & Eurotunnel

                      • Dover–Calais and Folkestone–Calais crossings very busy this weekend. No weather disruption expected. Allow longer times for boarding and passport checks.

                        • Spanish Mainland–Canary Islands Ferries

                        • Cádiz and Huelva departures running on time, but long queues expected due to peak summer traffic.

                          • Eurostar & Eurotunnel

                          • Services on time, but most weekend trains are fully booked. Arrive early for security and boarding.

                            • Spain Rail (Renfe & Adif)

                            • AVE high-speed trains running on time, though Saturday and Sunday departures from Madrid and Barcelona are close to full capacity.
                            • Valencia–Tarragona overnight works continue to affect a handful of late services.

                              • The post Weekend Flight and Travel Update: 23–24 August 2025 first appeared on N332 Radio.

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