Atletico Madrid s LaLiga clash with Athletic Bilbao was called off on Saturday after a snowstorm caused severe disruption in Spain.
Storm Filomena blanketed parts of the country in heavy snow, as Madrid - one of the worst affected areas - could see up to an exceptional eight inches of snow throughout the day.
The Athletic Bilbao squad boarded a private plane on Friday night ahead of the league encounter at the Stadio Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday, but as they approached the Spanish capital they were refused permission to land at Barajas airport and were diverted back to their origin.
A LaLiga statement read: Given the exceptional situation caused by the storm across a large part of the Iberian peninsula, causing the closure of Madrid Barajas airport throughout the day, and the impossibility of having the pitch in optimal playing conditions, LaLiga, after contacting both clubs, have asked the Professional Competition Committee first thing this morning to postpone the match betwe
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By Reuters Staff
3 Min Read
MADRID (Reuters) - Heavy snowfall from Storm Filomena left thousands of Spanish drivers trapped in their cars on Friday as roads were blocked and Madrid airport was closed.
The M-30 and M-40 motorways near Madrid were among more than 400 roads where snow hindered vehicles, traffic authorities said. Citizens were asked to avoid non-essential travel because of the highly unusual blizzard.
“I drove to see my husband in hospital and have been stuck here for three hours. It’s a journey which should take 15 minutes,” a woman told Spanish television RNE from her car.
Meteorologists expected Friday’s snowfall to total 20 cm (8 inches), and temperatures hovered around freezing. The Red Cross took food to trapped lorry drivers on the A4 in Madrid.
By Graham Dunn2020-12-18T12:25:00+00:00
IAG has reportedly agreed fresh terms to acquire Spanish carrier Air Europa, but the expected wider consolidation in the industry may be delayed by the crisis.
The Iberia and Vueling parent in November 2019 struck a deal to acquire Air Europa for €1 billion ($1.1 billion), which was originally expected to close in the first half of this year.
Source: Iberia
Iberia chief executive Luis Gallego (
left) with Javier Hidalgo, chief executive of Air Europa parent Globalia when the planned acquisition was first agreed in November 2019
But completion of that deal stalled amid the complications of the global pandemic. IAG has maintained that the strategic reasons for acquiring Air Europa remain, but that it was reviewing the structure of the deal as a result of the crisis.
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IAG has been especially hard hit this year because BA makes much of its income through transatlantic flights, which have been among the routes most severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The BA-owner argues the Air Europa takeover will give its existing airlines in the country – Iberia and Vueling – dominance at the country s largest airport, Madrid Barajas, and on routes to South America.
The company s Spanish arm has become increasingly influential in the airline conglomerate, which also owns Ireland s Aer Lingus.
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