Thousands of passengers have been stranded at a Spanish airport after dozens of flights were delayed due to heavy rain and storms. The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has issued warnings in Mallorca and Menorca for heavy rain and storms which may lead to more delays at Palma Airport. 

Around 120 flights between departures and arrivals have been delayed at the Palma airport. Flight disruptions have caused significant delays and cancellations across several airports. A total of 43 departure flights and 55 arrival flights have been affected, creating widespread inconvenience for travellers. Among the cancellations, two incoming flights from Paris were called off, adding to the disruption. Meanwhile, Menorca Airport has reported four cancelled flights—both departures and arrivals—all of which were scheduled to travel to or from Barcelona.

On Thursday, an orange alert indicating significant risk was issued for Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community due to severe weather conditions forecasted by Aemet. 

The alert warns of intense storms capable of producing hail, powerful wind gusts, and torrential rainfall reaching up to 40 litres per square metre within just one hour. 

The most affected regions are expected to be the pre-coastal and coastal zones of Barcelona, along with the pre-coastal and southern coastal areas of Girona, where the heaviest downpours are anticipated.

Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.

The Spanish air traffic control authority, Enaire, warned via social media that adverse weather conditions were expected to persist across the eastern region, potentially affecting operations in both Barcelona and Palma.

Barcelona-El Prat airport has been hit hardest, with cancellations and delays ranging from 60 to 90 minutes reported on Thursday morning.

The airport is currently functioning at just 60% of its normal capacity, underscoring the severity of the disruption.