Airspace over Palma briefly closed – Air show for Son Sant Joan's 75th anniversary

Sky over Palma closed for about one and a half hours

This lunchtime it felt noticeably different above the city: between 11:30 and 13:00 there was a pause in flight operations at Palma airport. The reason was an air show marking the 75th anniversary of the Son Sant Joan airbase. In short: no takeoffs, no landings – for roughly 90 minutes.

What exactly happened

The base itself is hosting an open day today, officially scheduled to run until about 17:30. The program includes several flight demonstrations, an extensive exhibition of military and civilian aircraft and various interactive stations for children. In the morning I met a few neighbours on their way there – all with cameras and windbreakers, because the sky today was one of those typically cool autumn days.

If you were at the airport at short notice today or intended to drop someone off: expect delays. Even on the Passeig Marítim you could hear the deep roar of the engines before the closure began. The aviation authorities had announced the time window in advance; still, such a flight ban is always noticeable, especially when the sun is low and the noise sounds different.

For visitors and commuters

If you wanted to attend the open day: allow extra time. Parking on and around the base is limited and access roads will certainly be busier than usual. There's plenty on offer for families – from a technical look behind the scenes to small activities for children. And if someone is expecting you elsewhere: buses or taxis may be needed more often.

For safety reasons these closures are unavoidable. For most travelers, it only meant a temporary adjustment today: flights were diverted or delayed for the duration of the show. Normal flight operations resumed after 13:00.

A small tip

If you still plan to visit the base in the coming days: arriving early is worthwhile. And perhaps bring a jacket – Mallorca's November is mild but the wind can feel chilly at air shows. For everyone affected today: take a deep breath, visit a café in the old town and shorten the wait with a cup of cortado. That way you can at least turn waiting into a small experience.

If there is new information, the aviation authority will communicate the changes. Until then: briefly closed, then reopened – and for one day the sky was a little louder than usual.