Flight Disruptions
Storm Bruna cancels 48 flights at Madeira International Airport

Storm Bruna cancels 48 flights at Madeira International Airport

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Checked by Josh Arnfield

Last updated on 9 November 2026

Affected flights

Affected airlines

Affected flights

Affected airlines

Disruption overview

Passengers traveling to and from Funchal, Portugal, faced 48 flight cancellations at Madeira International Airport – Cristiano Ronaldo on 8 November 2026 as Storm Bruna continued to disrupt air traffic. Cancellations affected arrivals and departures across airlines including Ryanair, easyJet, TAP, British Airways, and others, with affected services scheduled throughout much of the day. Because severe weather was outside airlines' control, compensation generally isn't owed under EC 261 or UK 261, but if your flight was canceled, you may still have rights to rebooking, a refund, and care while you wait, depending on your circumstances.

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Disruption details

Storm Bruna caused 48 flight cancellations at Madeira International Airport – Cristiano Ronaldo in Funchal, Portugal, on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Severe weather disrupted both arrivals and departures, with cancellations continuing into the evening.

For passengers, this meant interrupted journeys both to and from Madeira. If your flight was canceled, you're facing a change of plans—but the weather-related cause doesn't remove your rights to support from your airline.

The affected departures were scheduled between 7:30 am and 5:00 pm, while canceled arrivals were due between 8:35 am and 4:20 pm. The cancellations stretched across much of Sunday's schedule rather than a single short period.

Flights operated by Transavia France, Ryanair, easyJet Europe, easyJet Airlines, easyJet Switzerland, and Iberia were affected. British Airways, TAP, Binter Canarias, Wizz Air Hungary, Azores Airlines, and Condor Flugdienst also had cancellations.

The disruption was caused by severe weather associated with Storm Bruna, rather than an airline staffing, technical, or operational problem. Because the storm was outside airlines' control, compensation generally isn't owed under EC 261 or UK 261 for cancellations caused by this weather.

Although compensation is unlikely here, you're still entitled to support. Depending on your flight and circumstances, your rights can include:

Rebooking or a refund if your flight is canceled and you no longer wish to travel.
Food and refreshments during a lengthy wait.
Accommodation and transportation to it if you're away from home and need to wait overnight.

Follow your airline's instructions, particularly for check-in and boarding, and ask about the assistance available for your journey. If you're unsure which passenger rights apply to your flight, AirHelp's free flight checker can help you understand your eligibility.

Know your rights

These are your air passenger rights

When your flight's disrupted, you may be entitled to various forms of care and compensation under EC 261 and other applicable laws.

Rerouting or refund

If your flight is canceled, your airline must provide an alternative. You may also get a full refund if you no longer wish to travel.

Care and assistance

Your airline must provide food and refreshments if your journey is delayed more than a few hours.

Accommodation

If you are away from home and your journey is delayed overnight, the airline must offer you accommodation and transportation to it.

Communication

Under EC 261 you are entitled to 2 phone calls or emails if your journey is delayed over 1 hour. No compensation when a disruption is caused by extraordinary circumstances, as this appears to be.

This advice is provided to help you if your flight is delayed or canceled. However, the exact care and compensation you are entitled to will depend on your specific circumstances and flight. Always follow the directions of your airline, particularly with regard to check-in and boarding times.

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Quick facts

Summary

Disruption

Cancellations

Cause

Weather issue

Status

Current disruption

Compensation

Not eligible for compensation

Flights affected

Airlines affected

Transavia France, Ryanair, Easyjet Europe Airline, Easyjet Switzerland, Iberia, British Airways, Tap Air Portugal, Binter Canarias, SATA International - Azores Airlines S.A., Condor Flugdienst

Cities affected

Funchal

Countries affected

Portugal

Start date

2026-11-08

Checked by

Josh Arnfield

Date updated

9 November 2026

What to do if your flight is delayed, canceled, or overbooked

If you're traveling to, from, or within the European Union, here's what you should do when you experience a disruption.

Gather evidence that your flight was delayed, cancelled, or overbooked.

Get the airline to provide written confirmation of the disruption and the reason behind it.

Request an alternative flight to your destination — or a refund if you no longer wish to travel.

Make a note of the arrival time at your final destination.

Ask the airline to provide vouchers for meals and refreshments.

Avoid signing documents or accepting offers that may waive your passenger rights.

If an overnight stay is required, ask the airline to provide accommodation.

Save receipts for any additional expenses caused by the disruption.

Information on this page is AI generated, but always checked by a (human) passenger right expert.

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