Spain and Portugal – flight cancellations and holiday disruption Q&A

Spain, Portugal and parts of France experienced a widespread power cut on Monday. Airports and public transport systems closed, and most buildings - including hotels - experienced blackouts. 

Holidaymakers reported problems accessing cash from cashpoints and checking in to flights because there was no mobile signal. Some municipalities in Spain asked for people to stay at home.

Is the blackout over in Spain and Portugal?

In general, yes - but you should still expect some disruption. 

Airports such as Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon have now reopened, however The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office  (FCDO) has warned of continued disruption, and advised travellers to check with their tour operator or airline for more information before travelling, and to monitor local authorities for updates. 

Yesterday’s closure of airports and disruption to air traffic control will have a significant knock-on effect on travel to and from both countries. Several flights to and from Spain and Portugal today have already been cancelled and delayed, and this is likely to continue. 

Here’s our advice if your travel plans have been affected by the blackout.

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Where in Spain and Portugal was affected by the power outage?

The power outage was nationwide, but larger cities appear to have been the worst affected. 

Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon airports all suffered power outages, as did the public transport systems in those cities. Spain’s air traffic control agency said it wouldn’t process flight plans, which resulted in flight disruptions across Spain. 

Alicante, Malaga and the Algarve were also affected by the power outage.  

What to do if you’re due to travel to Spain or Portugal this week

Check the latest advice from your airport and airline or tour operator.

Power has been mostly restored to all affected areas in Spain and Portugal. But the disruption has caused some knock-on effects, such as flight cancellations and delays.

You’ll typically find the most up-to-date advice from airline apps and airport social media feeds, rather than their websites. 

If your flight is still operating, you’ll lose your money if you decide not to travel – unless you've booked a more expensive flexible fare. 

The best advice is not to cancel. You will lose all your money if you do so, and you won’t be able to claim via travel insurance. 

Package holiday providers may offer customers the chance to rebook if the disruption continues and it looks like this will affect the holiday. You're protected by the package travel regulations, which means the holiday must be delivered as described.

See our full guide to package holiday rights.

What to do if your holiday is in the next few weeks

It's unlikely that holidays in the coming weeks will be affected by the power outage. The electricity supply has been mostly restored, airports are back up and running, and there are no reports of further power cuts. 

Reach out to your tour operator or airline if you’d like to know more. And if you haven’t yet got travel insurance, organise it with a reputable provider as soon as possible.

My flight to Spain or Portugal was cancelled — what should I do?

Airlines must look after passengers when flights are cancelled, whatever the reason for the cancellation. That means putting you on an alternative flight to get you to your destination, if needed, or you can accept a refund. You are almost certainly better off insisting on rerouting if you still intend to travel, as rebooking flights will be expensive. 

Airlines are also legally required to pay for food and - if you're forced to stay overnight - cover the cost of a hotel stay. 

If you're stuck in Spain, the above is likely to prove difficult given the chaos caused by the power outage. That doesn’t affect your legal rights, though. So if you do buy a meal or need a hotel overnight, make sure you keep the receipts, as you'll be able to claim the money back from the airline.  

Passengers are unlikely to be able to claim compensation for flight delays and cancellations, as this is an exceptional circumstance.

Read our full guide to your rights when flights are cancelled.

Your holiday and flight rights if a power outage happens

The blackout has ended across most affected areas and there is no reason to believe future power outages could occur. But here’s our advice for holidaymakers experiencing a power cut

What to do if your hotel loses power

Power has been restored to most of Spain and Portugal, but if further outages happen, there isn’t much travellers can do in the short term.

If you booked a package holiday, contact your provider and ask about your options. If electricity returns to some areas or buildings before others, you could ask to be moved to an alternative hotel or even a different resort. While the package travel regulations offer protection to customers where hotels aren't as advertised, you won't be able to claim compensation in this instance. The power outage is likely to be considered an unavoidable and extraordinary circumstance.

You may be able to claim costs from your travel insurance, especially if you end up having to pay for a new hotel. But speak to your insurer first, because all policies differ. 

What to do if you can’t access cash

As electricity has mostly returned, you should now be able to access cash at ATMs.

In the power outage, some shops, cafés and restaurants allowed customers to pay using a bank transfer via online banking, provided they still had access to the internet.

In future, if you’re on holiday amid an outage and find yourself in emergency circumstances, the British embassy or consulate may help in transferring money from friends or family in the UK. However, they charge a high fee for this service.

You may be able to purchase cash using your debit or credit card from a bureau de change on the high street or in airports, but be prepared to queue.

Our advice if you lose internet access on holiday 

Your internet access, which is usually via a wi-fi connection in hotels and resorts, will be affected by any power outages. 

You may be able to use your mobile data to connect to the internet. However, if your mobile phone plan doesn't include roaming, it might be best to buy a roaming bundle bolt-on to reduce costs. See our guide on how to save on roaming charges abroad.

If your 4G or 5G mobile data isn't working, this isn't necessarily due to the power outage directly, and is likely caused by overloaded mobile networks. You may find that your connection is slower or intermittent.

What to do if you can’t check in for your flight

If you can't access the internet or charge your phone, you may not be able to check in for your flight.

If your flight is still operating, travel to the airport, where most airlines will still check you in for free. Some airlines, such as Ryanair, charge expensive fees to check in at the airport – you might be able to claim this cost back from your insurer, depending on the policy.

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