storm therese canary islands flight cancellations la palma

Storm Therese Wreaks Havoc on Canary Islands Air Travel

Storm Therese Disrupts Canary Islands Air Travel

The arrival of Storm Therese to the Canary Islands is already generating its first visible consequences for air transport. Strong wind gusts, atmospheric instability, and adverse weather conditions are particularly affecting airports on the western islands, where cancellations, flight diversions, and extremely complex landing manoeuvres have been recorded. One of the most striking moments of the day occurred at La Palma airport, where a video recorded on Wednesday shows the difficulty an aircraft faced touching down amidst the storm.

Dramatic Crosswind Landing Captured on Video

The images reflect the tension generated by the weather conditions and highlight the impact the bad weather episode is having on airport operations. The meteorological event coincides with a period of high air mobility between the islands and mainland Spain, which has led to alterations in flight schedules and delays affecting numerous passengers. The video circulating on social media, recorded from near La Palma airport, shows a Binter airlines aircraft attempting to complete its landing manoeuvre while being buffeted by intense wind gusts.

During the approach to the runway, the aircraft visibly sways, evidencing the difficulty of maintaining stability against the crosswinds characteristic of this type of storm. The scene caused anxiety among those witnessing the manoeuvre from the airport. In the recording, one witness can be heard commenting with concern: “The people on board must be so seasick,” a phrase that reflects the tense sensation of the moment. Crosswind landings are among the most complex situations for pilots, requiring great precision and aircraft control to maintain the correct trajectory until contact with the runway.

Flight Cancellations and Operational Safety

The consequences of the storm are not limited to landing manoeuvres. Adverse weather conditions have also forced the cancellation of several scheduled flights during the day. According to reports from Aena, the meteorological complications have caused the cancellation of at least two flights bound for La Palma. These connections were scheduled to depart from Tenerife North and Gran Canaria airports, routes which typically see a high volume of inter-island traffic.

The cancellations are in response to operational safety criteria, as when wind exceeds certain limits or visibility is significantly reduced, airlines and air traffic controllers may decide to suspend operations to avoid risks.

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