Flights at Palma airport were delayed on Thursday morning after thick fog settled over the Bay of Palma — an unusual sight in the middle of summer.
What happened
Visibility dropped sharply in the early hours, forcing air traffic controllers to slow the rate of arrivals and departures. Some passengers waited up to two hours, and several flights were rescheduled. The airport operator, Aena, warned of significant delays while the fog persisted.
With the airport already handling peak summer traffic, the knock-on effects were felt throughout the morning. Conditions improved as the sun burned the fog away.
Why fog forms in summer
Fog in July is rare in Mallorca, but it can form when:
- the air near the surface is very humid;
- winds are light overnight;
- warm, moist air moves over cooler sea water and condenses.
This kind of sea fog usually lies in a thin layer along the coast and clears once the sun warms the air, but in the early morning it can be dense enough to disrupt flights.
A contrast with the heat inland
While the coast was shrouded in fog, inland Mallorca was forecast to reach up to 41°C, with an amber heat warning in force for the south of the island.
If your flight is affected
- Check your flight status on the airline’s or airport’s app before setting off.
- Allow extra time if you are flying early in the morning.
- Keep receipts if you are delayed for a long time: under EU rules, airlines must provide food and drink after delays of two hours or more on short flights, though weather is considered an extraordinary circumstance and does not normally entitle passengers to compensation.
- Follow announcements and the guidance of airport staff.
