Holidaymakers travelling through Palma de Mallorca Airport faced disruption on Thursday July 9 morning after thick banks of fog rolled across the Bay of Palma, delaying dozens of flights during one of the busiest periods of the summer season.
According to Spain’s airport operator Aena, the reduced visibility caused by the unusual early morning fog affected flight operations shortly after sunrise. While the airport remained open, arriving and departing aircraft were forced to operate more slowly, creating knock-on delays across the morning schedule.
Fog slows flight operations
The fog developed over the bay before daybreak, reducing visibility around the airport just as the first wave of departures and arrivals was getting underway.
Air traffic controllers introduced greater spacing between aircraft as a safety precaution, meaning planes had to wait longer to land and take off. Although no runway closures were reported, the reduced operating capacity quickly led to delays affecting flights bound for destinations across Europe.
Passengers were advised to check the latest status of their flights with their airline before travelling to the airport, as delays continued to ripple through the morning schedule.
Rare summer weather event
Dense fog is relatively uncommon in Mallorca during July, when high temperatures and clear skies are more typical. However, meteorologists explained that humid air over the Mediterranean combined with calm overnight conditions allowed fog banks to form over the Bay of Palma before drifting inland.
The weather disruption comes as Mallorca prepares for another spell of intense summer heat, with temperatures forecast to climb into the mid-30s across Palma and exceed 40C in parts of the island’s interior later in the day.
Busy day for holiday flights
Palma Airport is one of Europe’s busiest summer gateways, handling thousands of passengers each day during the peak holiday season. Even relatively short weather-related interruptions can have a significant impact, as delayed arrivals often affect aircraft scheduled to operate later flights.
Most services were expected to resume normal timings once the fog lifted and visibility improved, although some passengers could continue to experience delays as airlines worked through the backlog of affected flights.
Travellers are encouraged to monitor airline updates throughout the day and allow extra time when travelling to the airport, particularly if connecting to onward flights. Flight information screens and airline apps are expected to provide the latest operational updates as services return to normal.
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