Latest news and stories about air travel in infrastructure in Portugal for expats and residents.
The SATA aviation group is operating extraordinary flights between Sunday and Monday to clear a backlog of passengers caused by heavy fog in the Azores. The weather conditions, which began on Friday, forced the cancellation of multiple flights operated by SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines.
The civil terminal at Lajes Air Base in the Azores has sufficient fuel reserves to continue scheduled flights following a supply disruption. While recent fuel deliveries failed to meet quality standards set by Galp, the director of the terminal confirmed that military operations remain unaffected and civilian services will continue as planned.
Lajes Air Base (Base Aérea das Lajes) is a Portuguese military airfield on Terceira Island in the Azores that has served as a strategic mid‑Atlantic stop for military and civilian flights since World War II. Its use for US military refuelling matters because operations there involve Portuguese sovereignty and government approval, so allowing US planes to refuel for missions to the Middle East can create legal and political controversy in Lisbon and the Azores.
Severe weather conditions have disrupted air traffic at the Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport in Madeira, leading to multiple flight cancellations and diversions. Meanwhile, a report by AirAdvisor identified the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto as having one of the highest rates of prolonged delays in Europe during 2025, with an average wait time exceeding 100 minutes for delayed flights.
The airport association ACI Europe has warned that European airports face a systemic risk of jet fuel shortages within three weeks if traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is not stabilized. A prolonged supply interruption could significantly impact airport operations, connectivity, and the broader European economy.
Civil air traffic at Lajes Air Base in the Azores faces a week-long fuel supply suspension due to contamination, though military operations remain unaffected.
Rising kerosene costs due to the Middle East conflict have led airlines to increase ticket prices, introduce new baggage and seat reservation fees, and cancel certain routes ahead of the summer season.
The air travel landscape for Porto Santo presents a complex picture as new direct routes to Luxembourg and Prague are introduced amidst broader connectivity challenges.
Canada and Austria are the main drivers of this expansion. With 30 routes and 16 airlines, the archipelago aims to consolidate itself as a year-round destination.
The situation resulted in another plane only being able to land on its second attempt due to a runway inspection. The aircraft arrived safely in the United Kingdom.
American Airlines has not confirmed which routes will be suspended in August and September, but US media outlets report that six routes will be affected.
Although ruling out the risk of fuel shortages for the summer for now, IATA warns of the impact of rising costs on air travel prices.
Fog over the last few days in the Azores has forced the cancellation of 175 flights. 17,000 passengers have been affected by SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines alone.
Dozens of flights were cancelled by TAP, Azores Airlines, and SATA in the Azores today as a result of heavy fog.
According to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere, all islands are generally experiencing very cloudy skies.
A report by AirAdvisor indicates that Portugal ranks fourth in Europe for flight delays in 2026, with England topping the list.
Flight TP643 was operating the Brussels-Lisbon route.
Two passengers on a TAP flight between Brussels and Lisbon were injured this Wednesday, May 27, due to severe turbulence, a source from the airline told Lusa. The two passengers received assistance upon arrival at Lisbon Airport due to “injuries caused by unexpected severe turbulence during the flight”. Flight TP643, which connected Brussels and Lisbon, landed at Lisbon Airport at 17:30, according to the flight tracking website Flight Radar. The news was reported by the newspaper Correio da Manhã, which states that the two injured individuals - one who suffered a blow to the head and the other a small cut - were transported to a hospital in Lisbon.
One person suffered a cut, another sustained a head injury. The two passengers, arriving from Brussels, received medical assistance upon arrival in Lisbon, the final destination where the plane landed with priority.
