Madeira International Airport is the only one in the world whose wind limits are mandatory (15 knots), although they were imposed in 1964 and defined based on studies that used a DC3 aircraft from World War II, when the runway was 1,600 metres long, whereas it is currently 2,781 metres.

The National Civil Assessment Authority (ANAC) assured, in July last year, they were available to review the wind limits imposed for operations at Madeira Airport, with a view to a decision in 2026, after the equipment had been tested.

In his opening speech, Minister Eduardo Jesus highlighted a set of positive indicators in the area of the Economy, such as the 37-month cycle of continuous growth, the unemployment rate last year, the lowest since 2021, and the evolution of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) since 2021.

In the area of tourism, he recalled the figures recorded in terms of passenger movement at the region’s airports in 2023 (4.8 million, 43.4 percent more than in 2019), stressing the importance of reinforcing accessibility by offering more seats on airplanes.

The Regional Government will also continue to focus on promoting Madeira as a destination, with an investment of €18.4 million, €1.5 million more than in 2023. With regard to culture, the Budget for this year foresees an investment of around €1.1 million, 0,5 percent more than the previous year.