Jet2 Issues Warning Over Flight Disruption from Birmingham Airport to Madeira
Jet2 has issued a significant warning regarding flight disruptions affecting services from Birmingham Airport to the popular holiday island of Madeira (Funchal). The airline cites adverse weather conditions as the primary cause, with strong winds severely impacting operations at Madeira Airport.
Airline Statement and Passenger Guidance
In a statement released on Sunday, April 12, Jet2's UK Based Operations Team confirmed they are working hard to minimise any disruption to flights to and from Madeira. The airline emphasised that safety remains its top priority and apologised to passengers affected by the ongoing issues.
Jet2 advised passengers currently delayed in Madeira who are awaiting confirmation of new flight times back to the UK to refer to communications sent via SMS and email for details about their rescheduled flights. This information will also include check-in opening times for the new arrangements.
Revised Flight Schedules and Local Reports
The airline has already implemented schedule changes, with flight number LS1226 from Birmingham now scheduled to depart at 20:35 instead of its original time. Local reports from Madeira Island News, provided by Tobi Hughes, indicate that 40 flights have been cancelled between arrivals and departures as of Thursday, April 9.
According to Hughes, no aircraft had landed at Madeira Airport until approximately 3:30 PM on that day, with the first flights managing to land shortly afterward. He noted that a few flights have managed to land in the last hour, offering some hope for later flights, but warned that windy conditions are expected to persist.
Weather Forecast and Ongoing Impact
The weather situation remains challenging, with forecasts predicting continued strong winds for the remainder of Thursday and into Friday. Conditions are expected to improve slightly by Saturday, but delays and diverted flights remain likely over the next couple of days.
Data from ANA, the airport authority, confirms that strong winds hampered movement at Madeira Airport throughout the morning of April 9. While two planes arrived earlier in the day at 12:34 AM and 2:02 AM, no aircraft landed between 2:02 AM and 10:45 AM, highlighting the severity of the disruption.
Passengers traveling from Birmingham Airport to Madeira are urged to stay updated through Jet2's official channels and prepare for potential changes to their travel plans as the weather situation evolves.
