Major Power Outage Hits Spain: Widespread Transport Disruptions and Delays at Alicante-Elche Airport
Monday, April 28th, 2025
On Monday, the 28th of April 2025, a significant power outage disrupted large parts of Spain, Portugal, and southern France, severely affecting transportation systems and airport operations across the Iberian Peninsula.
Update 29/4/2025:
Power has been restored to most of the affected areas, and all airports are fully operational. Passengers are advised to check with their airline for any potential changes to flight schedules resulting from yesterday’s disruption.
The airport operator Aena has released the following statement on X early this morning:
“UPDATE 07:00 – #powercut:
All airports remain operational. We recommend that passengers check the status of public transport services to the airports and confirm their flight status with their airline due to possible rescheduling from yesterday. Overnight, airports have adjusted their schedules to accommodate rebooked passengers, and no significant crowding has been reported in the terminals.”
Monday, 28/04/2025
Transport Disruptions Across Spain
The blackout, which began around 12:30 p.m. local time, led to widespread failures in public infrastructure. Traffic lights ceased functioning, causing major congestion in urban areas. Rail services, including those operated by Renfe, were suspended, and metro systems in cities like Madrid were evacuated. With the aid of emergency generators, airports have remained operational, although there are flight delays and a few cancellations.
Ongoing Recovery Efforts
The cause of the outage remains under investigation, with possibilities ranging from a rare atmospheric phenomenon to issues within the European electricity grid. Spanish grid operator Red Eléctrica estimated that restoring full power could take between six to ten hours, with some areas potentially facing longer delays. Authorities have advised the public to minimise travel and to stay updated through official channels. Investigations into the root cause of the outage are ongoing, with both national and European agencies involved.
The airport operator Aena posted on X:
“Airports are operational with contingency electrical systems. The impact on flights will depend on the difficulties passengers and crew face in reaching the airport. Some delays are occurring. Please check with your airline for the status of your flight.”
Featured image courtesy of Pok Rie – Pexels