PLAY Airlines shut down on September 29, 2025, cancelling every flight, including Madeira’s weekly Iceland link, blaming financial issues, falling ticket demand and unresolved labor conflicts.
After construction restarted in 2023, land around Ponta do Pargo’s golf course doubled in price, attracting more foreign investors to the island.
A massive container broke free from a truck and crashed onto the opposite lane between Funchal and Santa Cruz. Fortunately, there were no injuries.
The Supreme Court confirmed a six-year prison term for Câmara de Lobos bank robber, rejecting his appeal for a lighter sentence after stealing €215,000 from Caixa Geral de Depósitos.
Early this morning, the IFCN discovered that the security gate blocking the PR1 Vereda do Areeiro trail had been torn down, forcing a temporary closure for safety.
PSD-Madeira faces criticism over luxury building plans at Praia Formosa. The party is accused of prioritizing business interests over local residents and reducing public access to one of Funchal’s last free seaside areas.
Cable cars for Funchal residents? Smarter traffic systems? A modernized bus fleet? Politicians across the spectrum are sharing ideas to reduce car dependence and tackle Madeira’s traffic problems.
Madeira’s tourism sector, which contributes 12% to Portugal's tourism and an unforgiving 40% of the island’s GDP, faces mounting pressures. Experts at the Tourism Conference urge clear policies, Visitor Impact Management, and improved transport solutions.
The closure of the Funchal cable car from January 5, 2026, involves a €4 million project focusing on the Funchal station, cable replacement, and updating the system’s technology.
Ride-hailing drivers protested in Funchal after Madeira suspended new TVDE licenses to prevent competition, leaving €700 training wasted, drivers unable to work, and tensions running high.
A 3.9-magnitude earthquake struck near Deserta Grande, Madeira, last night, and was felt by residents in eastern Madeira. Two minor aftershocks, each measuring 1.4 in magnitude, occurred early Thursday but went unnoticed by locals.
