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Adif, the organization responsible for managing Spain’s railway infrastructure, announced on X that all rail services have been suspended until further notice. Travelers are advised to refrain from heading to train stations.
Aviation Sector Responds to the Outage
Significant disruptions have also impacted major airports across Spain and Portugal, including Madrid’s Barajas Airport and Lisbon Airport. Images shared by CNN depicted numerous passengers stranded in darkness at Lisbon Airport. Yet, many facilities managed to switch to backup generators, enabling a partial resumption of services.
The airport operator confirmed on X that Aena network airports were operational with alternative power systems. However, they noted that flight schedules could be impacted as passengers and crews faced challenges reaching the airports. Travelers were encouraged to verify their flight status with their respective airlines amid ongoing delays.
According to reports from El Mundo, operations at both Barcelona and Malaga Airports were resumed by 3:30 p.m. local time. Aena also cautioned on its official website that certain disruptions continued, advising passengers to check for potential issues regarding access and ground transportation.
Flight delays remained prevalent at Lisbon, Madrid, and Barcelona airports, based on data from FlightAware. As of 5 p.m. local time, Madrid was observing an average delay of 38 minutes for arrivals and 34 minutes for departures. Meanwhile, Barcelona International Airport noted an average departure delay of 27 minutes, though this was improving.
TAP Air Portugal has also requested travelers to stay away from the airport, citing, “Due to the power cut affecting several European regions, operations at airports are greatly constrained. TAP advises passengers not to come to the airport until further notice,” as stated on their website.
On the other hand, Iberia, a Spanish airline, reported that its flights were operating normally despite the widespread power disruptions. However, they have provided customers the option to change their travel plans. “While our systems are functioning fully despite the blackout in Spain and other parts of Europe, we are providing flexibility for all passengers scheduled to fly today. We recommend following our updates, as adjustments may be required,” Iberia stated on X.
Guidance for Travelers in Spain and Portugal
Currently, the best course of action for travelers is to remain patient and avoid any unnecessary travel. With road accessibility being restricted and most train and air travel suspended, it is advisable to frequently check the social media pages or websites of travel providers for the most recent updates.
This is an ongoing news situation, and updates will be provided as new information emerges. Additional insights were contributed by Condé Nast Traveller UK.
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www.cntraveler.com