Madeira's airports recorded 606,200 passengers in August 2026, a 3.7% increase compared to August 2025. Aircraft occupancy reached 91.9%, with international traffic representing the majority of movements at Madeira Airport, while domestic traffic remained dominant at Porto Santo Airport.
This update is from Bica
Your quick shot of what's changing in Portugal and affecting your status, your home, your money, and whatever might disrupt your day. Short and clear updates, gathered from Portuguese sources.
It's free, with no signup and no app to download.
Read today’s briefingThe number of passengers arriving at Azores airports fell for the ninth consecutive month in September, with a 5.6% decrease compared to September 2025. Between January and September 2026, total arrivals in the region fell by 7.1%, with the largest declines seen in flights from mainland Portugal and Madeira (-12.4%) and international flights (-7%).
Police identified six employees of a ground handling company who were running a scam by charging passengers illegal fees for baggage transport under the threat of preventing them from boarding flights. The suspects collected payments directly in cash or through personal digital methods like MbWay, often targeting elderly or vulnerable travelers.
Six ground handling employees were identified by the PSP for allegedly extorting illegal baggage fees from passengers at Lisbon Airport. The suspects, who have been charged and are under investigation, demanded direct payments—in cash or via personal electronic transfers—by threatening to block boarding if the fees were not paid.