Strong winds caused major disruption at Madeira International Airport – Cristiano Ronaldo today, leading to numerous flight cancellations and diversions. Several aircraft were cancelled, returned to their airport of origin, or redirected to Porto Santo, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria. Some passengers who did land had already spent about an hour and a half circling while waiting for a break in the weather. Yesterday, wind speeds reached 80 km/h, creating strong constraints in the air operation of the Madeiran aerodrome. ANA said on its portal that adverse conditions may continue to affect airport operations over the next couple of days. It advised passengers to check their flight status with their respective airlines before travelling to the airport. The article also explains that Madeira’s steep volcanic landscape, rather than hillside development, is the main reason the airport is so exposed to difficult wind conditions.
