Airport Disruption: Strong Winds and General Strike
Air travel in Madeira is facing a double blow today. Operations at Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport are severely disrupted by strong winds, with gusts reaching up to 74 km/h. The situation is further complicated by a nationwide general strike affecting airport staff. This has resulted in dozens of cancelled and diverted flights and a tense atmosphere.
What This Means for You
- Who is affected? All passengers scheduled to fly to or from Madeira today.
- What does this mean in practice? Expect significant delays, possible flight diversions (most commonly to Porto Santo), or outright cancellations. There are extreme queues at check-in and security checkpoints at the airport.
- What we recommend:
- It is essential to contact your airline before you leave for the airport.
- If your flight is still scheduled, arrive at the airport extremely early (more than 3 hours in advance).
- Remain calm. Frustration is understandable, but as demonstrated by yesterday’s incident where a desperate tourist entered the runway and was arrested, impulsive actions only lead to serious problems.
General Strike: Transport and Service Disruptions
Today’s general strike is impacting life across the entire island. In addition to the airport, other key sectors important for tourists have also been affected.
Public Transport in Funchal
- Who is affected? Tourists planning to use the yellow city buses operated by Horários do Funchal.
- What does this mean in practice? Buses are operating on a very limited “emergency” schedule. Most services are not running, and those that are have significant delays and are overcrowded.
- What we recommend: To get around Funchal and its surroundings today, it’s best to use a taxi, ride-sharing services like Bolt, or walk.
Healthcare and Public Offices
- Who is affected? Anyone who might need medical assistance or to handle official matters.
- What does this mean in practice? Regular health centers (centros de saúde) and public offices (e.g., Loja do Cidadão) are closed or operating on a minimal basis.
- What we recommend: In case of a medical emergency, go directly to the emergency room (urgência) at the main hospital, Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital in Funchal.
Waste Collection and City Cleanliness
- Who is affected? All visitors, especially in Funchal and other tourist resorts.
- What does this mean in practice? Waste collection was severely limited overnight. You may encounter overflowing bins on the streets.
- What we recommend: Please be considerate and try to minimize the amount of bulky waste you produce.
Current Status of Hiking Trails and Levadas
Despite the transport complications, nature remains accessible. However, you should be aware of several important restrictions and exercise extra caution due to the strong winds.
PR1 Vereda do Areeiro (Pico do Areeiro ↔ Pico Ruivo)
- Status: PARTIALLY CLOSED
- What does this mean in practice? Madeira’s most famous trek is only passable in the section from Pico do Areeiro to the Pedra Rija viewpoint (approx. 1.2 km). The rest of the route towards Pico Ruivo is closed for safety reasons.
- Our recommendation: If you want to reach the island’s highest peak, Pico Ruivo, choose the alternative, fully open, and safer route: PR 1.2 from Achada do Teixeira.
PR9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde
- Status: OPEN WITH WARNING
- What does this mean in practice? The levada is accessible again after a recent landslide. However, today’s strong winds increase the risk of falling branches, especially in forested sections.
- Our recommendation: Be extremely vigilant and aware of your surroundings while hiking.
Important Notice for All Hikers
Before starting any official hiking trail (PR), check if online registration and payment of a fee are required for your chosen route via the SIMplifica portal. Forest guards conduct random checks, and you may face fines without a valid registration.