A massive power cut struck Spain and Portugal on Monday, April 28, 2025, causing widespread disruption across the Iberian Peninsula. The blackout began around 12:32 PM local time and affected millions of people, including transport networks, airports and public services. Malaga Airport was among the affected locations but managed to stay operational thanks to emergency power generators.
Inside Malaga Airport, flights continued to land and take off on schedule. Information panels showed departures without delay, and check-in counters were functioning normally. Aena, the airport operator, confirmed that the airport was avoiding the general blackout by using backup generators.
However, many shops and restaurants inside the terminal were unable to operate fully due to a lack of water and eletricity, which was only partially restored around 2 PM. Even airport toilets were affected because their automatic flushing systems require power.
Despite the airport itself running, access to Malaga Airport was severely disruoted. The general car park was inaccessible because the barriers could not open without electricity, through the VIP car park remained usable.
The biggest problems were outside the terminal, where passengers faced long waits for taxis and buses. Public transport, including the Cercanias commuter traind was suspended and traffic chaos in the city made it difficult for more vehicles to arrive. Many passengers lacked cash and credit card machines were pften down, complicating payments for taxis and other services.
The blackout caused by a strong “oscillation” in power flow, according to Eduardo Prieto, director of operations at Red Electrica Espanola (REE), Spain’s power network operator. He said full power retoration could take between six and ten hours. By 5PM, eletricity was returing to some areas, including Malaga, but other parts of Spain and Portugal Remained without power. Portugal’s power company warned it might take up to week for normal service to resume.
The outage caused chaos across the region. At major airports due to halted trains, non working traffic lights, and road congestion. Airlines like Iberia and easy Jet offered flexible options for affected travelers, including rescheduling fights and vouchers. Spain’s Transport Minister Oscar Puente Warned that medium and long distance trains would not resume normal immediately, focusing first on commuter routes.
Although, Malaga Airport successfully maintained flight operatiions during the nationwide power outage by relying on emergency generators. Howerver ground access and passenser services were heavily impacted by the blackout, causing delays and inconvenience. Authorities continue to work on restoring full power and normal transport across te Iberian peninsula.
