The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that Europe has only about six weeks of aviation fuel reserves remaining due to the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Executive Director Fatih Birol described the situation as the largest energy crisis ever faced, noting that flight cancellations may occur soon if supply chains remain disrupted. The European Commission is currently gathering data on refinery capacity to develop an emergency response plan.

The European Commission stated that initial constraints in the new European Entry/Exit System are normal, but emphasized that resolving these issues at airports is the responsibility of individual member states. The system, which came into force last Friday, caused significant delays at Portuguese airports over the weekend.

The Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) suspended biometric data collection at departures in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports on Saturday morning to prevent passengers from missing flights due to excessive wait times. The system, part of the new European Entry/Exit System, resumed operations by the early afternoon. Officials confirmed that biometric collection remains active for all arrivals.

Update: Airport biometric data collection resumes after temporary suspension

PSP spokesperson Sérgio Soares confirmed that biometric data collection is now operating at full capacity for both departures and arrivals. The suspension was a contingency measure implemented after the new border control system caused significant queues, leading some passengers to miss their flights.

Snowfall has led to the closure of several road sections in the central massif of the Serra da Estrela mountain range. The National Civil Protection Authority (Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil) confirmed that segments of the National Road (Estrada Nacional or EN) 339, including the route to the Torre summit, were closed to traffic late Tuesday.

Infrastructure limitations at Lisbon airport (Aeroporto de Lisboa) have resulted in 12% of requested flight slots for the summer season going unfulfilled. The National Air Navigation (Navegação Aérea de Portugal or NAV) warned that these capacity constraints are penalizing the tourism sector. Travelers should note that the lack of slots may limit flight options and keep ticket prices high during the peak season.

Operations at Madeira International Airport were reported as returning to normal after two days of disruptions that cancelled more than 70 flights. ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal reported that all scheduled arrivals between 08:00 and 10:00 landed and only one departure was cancelled, though it kept alerts for weather forecasts. Travellers should still check their airline status and expect last‑minute schedule changes while conditions stabilise. Those flying to or from Madeira should reconfirm flights with carriers and monitor ANA notices.