Severe weather conditions in the Canary Islands have led to significant disruptions at airports, with flooded runways, flight diversions, and delays affecting both inbound and outbound flights.
At around 3:00pm this afternoon (Tuesday), Air Traffic Controllers reported via their 'X' account that an overflow of a nearby flowerbed at Las Palmas Airport in Gran Canaria had covered runway 03L with soil. This situation forced operations to switch to runway 03R, necessitating increased spacing between aircraft for safety reasons.
However, after inspecting runway 03R, authorities decided to impose a 'rate zero' measure, halting all flights to and from Gran Canaria. This restriction was in place until crews safely cleared the accumulated water and soil from the runways.
In the meantime, flights already en route were redirected to alternative airports, causing congestion at other hubs, including Tenerife Sur. Air Traffic Controllers said: "We are instructing arriving planes to hold and prioritising flights diverted from Gran Canaria, some of which are experiencing fuel issues."
Travellers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest information and prepare for potential delays as airport staff work to restore safe operations.
