A strong electrical storm disrupted flight operations at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery and Aeropuerto Internacional de Ezeiza on Saturday morning [1, 2].
The weather event caused significant logistical chaos in the Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (AMBA), forcing aviation authorities to trigger safety protocols to manage lightning and strong winds [1, 4].
According to reports, the storm resulted in seven cancelled flights [2]. More than 30 flights faced delays [2, 3], and three flights were diverted to other locations [2]. The severe weather also caused flooding and power outages across the metropolitan region [4].
Airport officials said the impact on schedules would be prolonged. Delays were expected to extend until 16:00 [2]. The combination of lightning and heavy rain created hazardous conditions for both takeoff and landing, necessitating the temporary suspension of certain activities at the two primary hubs [1, 2].
Travelers at both Aeroparque and Ezeiza faced mounting congestion as the storm moved through the region. While some flights resumed as conditions improved, the backlog of delayed departures continued to affect operations throughout the afternoon [1, 3].
“More than 30 flights faced delays”
The disruption highlights the vulnerability of Buenos Aires' primary aviation hubs to sudden electrical storms. Because the city relies heavily on both a domestic hub (Aeroparque) and an international gateway (Ezeiza), simultaneous weather-related closures in the AMBA region can create a systemic bottleneck for both regional and global travel.
