Madeira Airport wind limits explained

Madeira is described as the only airport in the world with mandatory, regulator-enforced wind limits — the reason flights are so often delayed or diverted when it's windy.

Last updated: 29 June 2026

Madeira's mountainous terrain creates severe low-level wind shear and shifting crosswinds, so the airport operates under mandatory wind limits — broadly 15–25 knots mean wind for landing with gust caps around 25–30 knots, varying by runway and wind direction. When the wind exceeds them, aircraft cannot land, which is why flights are so often delayed, diverted or cancelled.

The broad limits

Runway	Phase	Mean wind	Max gust	Note
05	landing	~15 kt	~25 kt	Illustrative landing band. Madeira publishes mandatory mean-wind limits broadly in the 15–25 kt range with gust caps around 25–30 kt, varying by runway and wind sector.
23	landing	~15 kt	~30 kt	Illustrative landing band for runway 23. Exact per-sector limits are set out in the AIP and change over time.
05 & 23	takeoff	~25 kt	~30 kt	Take-off limits are generally higher than landing limits; some sectors have no published gust cap. Illustrative only.

Why Madeira is different

High ground at the runway-05 end blocks a straight-in instrument approach, so crews fly a demanding visual approach with a sharp turn onto final. Combined with Atlantic storms funnelling over the mountains, this produces wind shear, microbursts and powerful crosswinds. Because the danger is so specific, the regulator publishes hard wind limits — and air traffic control reports any approach flown beyond them, which can lead to sanctions.

To help, NAV Portugal rolled out a new wind-detection system (X-band radar plus LIDAR) in late 2024 to better predict the shear that drives go-arounds and diversions. See also the wind & storm season guide and is Madeira Airport dangerous?

Frequently asked questions

Why does Madeira Airport close in high winds?

Madeira is uniquely subject to mandatory, regulator-enforced wind limits because of severe terrain-driven wind shear and crosswinds. When the wind exceeds the published limits for the runway in use, flights cannot land and are delayed, diverted or cancelled.

What are the wind limits at Madeira?

Landing limits are broadly in the 15–25 knot mean-wind range with gust caps around 25–30 knots, varying by runway and wind sector; take-off limits are higher. Exact values are set out in the AIP and change over time.

Is Madeira the only airport with wind limits?

Madeira is described as the only airport in the world with such regulator-enforced mandatory wind limits. ATC may permit an approach above the limits, but the breach is reported to the authorities.

Sources

AIP Portugal (LPMA) — via published summaries — consult the current AIP for authoritative figures