PALMA DE MALLORCA – A sudden wave of severe thunderstorms has brought air traffic at Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) to a temporary standstill today, forcing several incoming flights to divert to neighboring airports across Spain and Europe.
AEMET, the national meteorological agency, had previously issued warnings for intense storms and “cumulonimbus” activity over the Balearic Islands. The rapid onset of the weather front led air traffic controllers to halt landings to ensure passenger safety, creating a ripple effect of delays throughout the region.
Major Diversions in Progress
Several low-cost and charter carriers have been forced to reroute their aircraft as they hovered over the Mediterranean waiting for a window to land. Confirmed diversions include:
- easyJet from Amsterdam (AMS): Diverted to Valencia (VLC).
- easyJet from Manchester (MAN): Diverted to Barcelona (BCN).
- TUI from Birmingham (BHX): Diverted to Ibiza (IBZ).
Operations Expected to Resume Shortly
Despite the disruption, airport officials and Enaire—Spain’s air traffic manager—are optimistic. Weather radar suggests the most intense cells are moving quickly out to sea.
Air traffic is expected to resume within the next few minutes, though passengers are warned that “knock-on” delays will likely persist throughout the evening as aircraft and crews are repositioned.
Travelers currently at the airport or expecting arrivals are encouraged to use official airlines apps, as gate assignments and arrival times are expected to shift rapidly once the “all-clear” is given.
