Storm cancels 385 Barcelona flights as Madrid, Málaga, and Athens face disruption

Disruption overview

Travel across Spain and Greece remains disrupted on 8 October 2026 after severe weather canceled 385 flights at Barcelona-El Prat Airport on 3–4 October, caused continuing delays at Madrid Barajas, and forced 37 diversions at Málaga. Vueling, Ryanair, EasyJet, Iberia, Air Europa, and Aegean are among the affected airlines, while unsafe landing conditions have also led to cancellations at Athens Airport. Rail suspensions in Spain and an Aegean-wide ferry ban have complicated onward journeys, leaving thousands of passengers stranded on Greek islands, with recovery expected gradually from 9 October. If your flight's affected, weather-related compensation is unlikely, but your airline may still owe you an alternative flight or refund, refreshments, and accommodation depending on your circumstances.

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Disruption details

Severe rain and thunderstorms forced 385 flight cancellations at Barcelona-El Prat Airport on 3–4 October 2026. By 8 October, the weather system was still disrupting travel across Spain and Greece, with delays at Madrid Barajas Airport, diversions at Málaga Airport, and cancellations at Athens Airport.

For passengers, this has meant canceled journeys, longer waits, and disrupted connections between flights, trains, and ferries. Across the wider transport disruption, 500,000 passengers are affected. If you're traveling through either country, the disruption may extend beyond your flight.

Vueling, Ryanair, EasyJet, Iberia, Air Europa, and Aegean are among the affected airlines. The Barcelona cancellations and 37 diversions at Málaga together account for 422 affected flights, with continuing delays at Madrid adding to the disruption.

Barcelona-El Prat's cancellations followed torrential rain and thunderstorms on 3–4 October. Vueling, Ryanair, and EasyJet services were among those affected.

At Madrid Barajas, delays have continued from 4–8 October, with 1 runway closed and around 150–200 flights affected each day. Strong crosswinds have also forced 37 flights bound for Málaga Airport to divert.

Rail disruption has complicated onward travel in Spain. Lightning damaged overhead lines on the Barcelona–Madrid AVE high-speed route, suspending services for 24–48 hours. Rodalies regional trains and metro connections have also been heavily disrupted.

Flooding, road closures, and red weather alerts in Catalonia and Andalusia have added to the difficulties. For travelers trying to reach an airport or continue after landing, the storm is affecting several parts of the same journey.

In Greece, gale-force winds have brought an Aegean-wide sailing ban. Services from Piraeus, Rafina, and Lavrio have stopped, with ferries to the Cyclades and Dodecanese suspended.

Thousands of passengers are stranded on Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos, and Paros. Travel to Rhodes and Crete is also facing knock-on disruption.

Unsafe landing conditions have led to flight cancellations at Athens Airport, affecting Aegean services. With both air and sea connections disrupted, passengers traveling to or from the islands face fewer options for continuing their journeys.

The disruption remains ongoing on 8 October. Recovery is expected to begin gradually from 9 October onward, rather than all services returning to normal at once.

Because severe weather is outside an airline's control, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely for flights disrupted by this storm. But that doesn't mean you're without support: care and assistance rights may still apply even when compensation isn't available.

Depending on your flight and circumstances, your airline's responsibilities may include:

• An alternative flight or a refund if your flight is canceled.

• Food and refreshments during a long wait.

• Accommodation and transportation to it if you're delayed overnight away from home.

Follow your airline's instructions, especially for check-in and boarding times. If you'd like to check whether your particular flight could qualify for compensation, AirHelp's free flight checker is a simple place to start.

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