The Portuguese meteorological institute, IPMA, had only maintained the warning level for wind to yellow in the more mountainous parts of the island, with this remaining in place only until noon.

On Thursdaya total of 52 arrivals and departures were affected. On Friday, 33 flights are scheduled, including some extra ones.

An official at TAP, Portugal’s national flag carrier, said it would be undertaking two extra Airbus A330 flights on Friday to transport "as many passengers as possible" of those that have been held back in Madeira due to bad weather.

The first flight to Lisbon was to depart Funchal at 1.45 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m.

In the opposite direction, the first flight is scheduled for 4.15 p.m. and the second for 9.30 p.m.

Binter of Spain, which runs regular flights between Madeira and Porto Santo, the other inhabited island in the archipelago, has laid on one extra flight for Friday.