Why is Madeira airport so dangerous?

Madeira’s airport is nothing short of legendary. If you look it up on youtube, you’ll find a pretty devoted fanbase who’s on the edge of their seats every time there’s a landing attempt. But is Madeira airport dangerous? How often do flights get cancelled? Here’s all you need to know about Madeira’s airport without any clickbait.

Why is it so hard to land In Madeira?

Madeira’s airport has a single runway and that one runway has a special landing procedure, which pilots have to train for. 

The airport was infamous from the very beginning. The original runway was only 1.600 meters long and pilots really couldn’t miss the mark, because there’s only the open ocean and hills around. Then, in the 1980s, the runway was extended to 1.800 meters.

In the 2000s, an impeccable piece of engineering allowed for a further extension. In lay terms, it’s platform supported by pillars, partly over the ocean – akin to a bridge – bringing the runway to a total of 2.781 meters. So the landing strip today is considerably longer than the original one. 

Nowadays, the big issue is no longer the runway length, but the gusty crosswinds that try to pull you up as you’re trying to land. These winds are the reason why pilots undergo special training to land in Madeira, and that means you’ll only fly here with top-tier professionals.

Honestly, if you’re flying low-cost, you’re more likely to have a rough landing anywhere else in Europe than here. (Speaking from experience!)

Have there been any accidents at Madeira airport?

There have been only four accidents with fatalities at Madeira’s airport. The most notorious was a TAP flight in 1977, when a Boeing 727 trying to land under decidedly poor weather crashed onto a beach. There have been no major commercial airline accidents since then. With the runway extensions, the airport is much safer now.

are Flights delayed and cancelled That often? 

The Madeira airport has wind restrictions. So, if you see a forecast of 20 knots or more for Santa Cruz, there’s a high likelihood your flight may be delayed or cancelled. Depending on the weather, you may just need to wait a few hours until the weather clears up, or you may need to try again the next day. 

Although the Atlantic is windier around the winter months, I actually don’t recall a lot of cancellations around Christmas and New Year’s, which is a popular time of the year to visit. On the other hand, this Summer there were tropical storms and extreme gusts of wind that caused mayhem. 

Ultimately, it can happen at any time of year. Nobody can control or predict weather several months out, so I can’t tell you “come here five months from now, there won’t be wind.” You just need to accept that element of uncertainty. 

Has it ever happened to me?

Okay, and now you’re thinking ‘has it ever happened to you?’. Yes, it has. Back in February 2018, my flight to the mainland was cancelled and I couldn’t get another one for a week. Several flights were cancelled due to a terrible storm, and there were thousands of tourists stranded on the island. But since it was low season, everybody stayed in fancy-schmancy hotels with all expenses paid.

This Summer, because it was high season, there were not enough rooms on the island to host everyone who had their flights cancelled. However, that’s uncommon. (Usually, if flights aren’t departing, they aren’t landing either, so things even out.) Companies tried to provide extra flights out as soon as the weather allowed, and the situation was under control after one or two days.

Remember that Madeira has been a top tourist destination for years, even before the runway extensions. Flight companies are ready to deal with these issues, and European legislation protects flyers regarding accommodation and food.

Where do flights divert to when they can’t land in Madeira?

Planes usually divert to Porto Santo, which has a longer runway and is only 15 minutes away. However, Porto Santo’s airport is small. If that airport gets full, flights will usually divert to Las Palmas (in the Canary Islands) or to the mainland (Porto, Lisbon, or Faro). All are more or less one and half hours away from Madeira. Once the winds calm down, pilots make another attempt. 

So, should you be scared to fly to Madeira? TL;DR

If you aren’t a nervous flyer, the worse that can happen is you’re stuck in the airplane flying around in circles for 45 mins and then get diverted to Porto Santo (15 mins flight), to the mainland (1h30) or the Canary Islands (1h:00 to 1h:30). 

For people who feel claustrophobic inside airplanes and can’t wait to get out, you can book a flight to Porto Santo instead – those are almost guaranteed to land – and take the opportunity to see the beautiful island, then take the ferry to Madeira (2h30). To leave Madeira, The Dreaded Airport is as reliable and safe as any other European airport.