Published on
November 29, 2025

People starnded across europe

Flight cancellations have plagued European air travel as airlines deal with a combination of staffing shortages, fleet limitations, and unexpected operational constraints. Key carriers, including SWISS, KLM, and Iberia, have had to cancel a significant number of flights, affecting travel plans for thousands of passengers.

As airlines navigate these disruptions, travelers are facing the dual challenge of finding alternative flights while dealing with long wait times for rebookings and refunds. Here’s a breakdown of the flight cancellations impacting European and international routes, and how you can navigate the disruption.

Cancelled KLM flightsIdentTypeOriginDestinationScheduled Departure TimeKLM1275A21NAmsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Copenhagen (CPH / EKCH)Fri 17:05 CETKLM1507B738Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD / LEMD)Fri 17:15 CETKLM1924B738Zurich (Kloten) (ZRH / LSZH)Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Fri 17:40 CETKLM1822E75LFrankfurt Int’l (FRA / EDDF)Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Fri 18:00 CETKLM918B737Aberdeen (ABZ / EGPD)Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Fri 17:30 GMTKLM1206B738Oslo, Gardermoen (OSL / ENGM)Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Fri 19:10 CETKLM1276A21NCopenhagen (CPH / EKCH)Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Fri 19:35 CETKLM809B789Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Kuala Lumpur Int’l (KUL / WMKK)Fri 20:35 CETKLM1508B738Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD / LEMD)Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Fri 20:40 CETKLM945B738Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Glasgow Int’l (GLA / EGPF)Fri 21:45 CETKLM1126E190Cork Int’l (ORK / EICK)Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Sat 06:10 GMTKLM934B738Glasgow Int’l (GLA / EGPF)Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Sat 06:15 GMTKLM1501B738Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD / LEMD)Sat 07:50 CETKLM1029B738Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Manchester (MAN / EGCC)Sat 08:05 CETKLM1579B738Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)General Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS / LPPT)Sat 08:45 CETKLM1919A21NAmsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Zurich (Kloten) (ZRH / LSZH)Sat 09:50 CETKLM809B789Kuala Lumpur Int’l (KUL / WMKK)Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Sat 10:15 +08KLM1030B738Manchester (MAN / EGCC)Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Sat 09:15 GMTKLM1920A21NZurich (Kloten) (ZRH / LSZH)Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Sat 11:10 CET

Cancelled Pegasus Airlines

IdentTypeOriginDestinationScheduled Departure TimePGT594A320Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Int’l (SAW / LTFJ)Marsa Alam Int’l (RMF / HEMA)Fri 21:55 +03PGT386A320Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Int’l (SAW / LTFJ)Vnukovo (VKO / UUWW)Fri 22:05 +03PGT1576A320Antalya (AYT / LTAI)Vnukovo (VKO / UUWW)Fri 22:25 +03PGT232B738Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Int’l (SAW / LTFJ)Aktau (SCO / UATE)Sat 00:25 +03PGT430A320Antalya (AYT / LTAI)Chisinau International (RMO / LUKK)Sat 01:05 +03PGT818A321Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Int’l (SAW / LTFJ)Erbil Int’l (EBL / OER)Sat 01:15 +03PGT314A321Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Int’l (SAW / LTFJ)Tbilisi Int’l (TBS / UGTB)Sat 01:55 +03PGT1800A320Antalya (AYT / LTAI)Queen Alia Int’l (AMM / OJAI)Sat 02:20 MSKPGT387A321Vnukovo (VKO / UUWW)Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Int’l (SAW / LTFJ)Sat 02:50 EETPGT431A320Chisinau International (RMO / LUKK)Antalya (AYT / LTAI)Sat 02:55 EETPGT1595A320Marsa Alam Int’l (RMF / HEMA)Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Int’l (SAW / LTFJ)Sat 04:20 MSKPGT1577A320Vnukovo (VKO / UUWW)Antalya (AYT / LTAI)Sat 04:25 +03PGT233B738Aktau (SCO / UATE)Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Int’l (SAW / LTFJ)Sat 05:00 +03PGT4066A320Edremit Korfez (EDO / LTBF)Antalya (AYT / LTAI)Sat 06:25 +03PGT1801A321Queen Alia Int’l (AMM / OJA)Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Int’l (SAW / LTFJ)Sat 06:45 +03PGT1819A320Erbil Int’l (EBL / OER)Antalya (AYT / LTAI)Sat 06:50 +03PGT315A321Tbilisi Int’l (TBS / UGTB)Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Int’l (SAW / LTFJ)Sat 06:55 +03PGT4848A320Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Int’l (SAW / LTFJ)Antalya (AYT / LTAI)Sat 06:55 +03PGT7422A321Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Int’l (SAW / LTFJ)Rinas Mother Teresa (TIA / LATI)Sat 07:05 +03

Cancelled Avianca FlightsIdentTypeOriginDestinationScheduled Departure TimeAVA9307A320Jose Maria Cordova Int’l (MDE / SKRG)El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Fri 11:08 -05AVA9290A320Antonio Narino (PSO / SKPS)El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Fri 11:35 -05AVA8578A319El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Palonegro (BGA / SKBG)Fri 12:10 -05AVA8455A320Los Garzones (MTR / SKMR)El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Fri 12:25 -05AVA9772A320Ernesto Cortissos Int’l (BAQ / SKBQ)El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Fri 12:35 -05AVA9437A320Palonegro (BGA / SKBG)El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Fri 12:50 -05AVA9485A320El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Rafael Nunez Int’l (CTG / SKCG)Fri 13:10 -05AVA9700A320Rafael Nunez Int’l (CTG / SKCG)El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Fri 13:30 -05AVA9884A320El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Alfonso Lopez Pumarejo (VUP / SKVP)Fri 14:05 -05AVA2317A320Alfonso Lopez Pumarejo (VUP / SKVP)El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Fri 14:40 -05AVA9431A320El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Alfonso Bonilla Aragon Int’l (CLO / SKCL)Fri 15:10 -05AVA9358A320Alfonso Bonilla Aragon Int’l (CLO / SKCL)El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Fri 15:30 -05AVA9222A320El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Jose Maria Cordova Int’l (MDE / SKRG)Fri 16:05 -05AVA9526A320Jose Maria Cordova Int’l (MDE / SKRG)El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Fri 16:45 -05AVA1033A320El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Ernesto Cortissos Int’l (BAQ / SKBQ)Fri 17:10 -05AVA7422A320Ernesto Cortissos Int’l (BAQ / SKBQ)El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Fri 17:40 -05AVA1712A320El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)Perales (IBE / SKIB)Sat 06:08 -05

Cancelled Swiss Flights

IdentTypeOriginDestinationScheduled Departure TimeSWR1051BCS3Hamburg (HAM / EDDH)Zurich (Kloten) (ZRH / LSZH)Sat 10:00 CETCauses of the Flight Cancellations: Shortage of Pilots and Aircraft Issues

The pilot shortage continues to be a major factor in flight disruptions, with airlines struggling to staff their fleets amid growing demand. In addition, some airlines are facing technical challenges with their aircraft, which have further delayed flight schedules and led to cancellations.

SWISS has experienced significant cancellations, particularly affecting routes to Zurich, as well as flights within Europe. These disruptions are being driven by a shortage of available cockpit crew and some fleet issues with their Airbus A220 jets.KLM and Iberia also face similar constraints, resulting in reduced flight frequencies and canceled services, particularly on shorter regional routes.Key Affected Destinations: Europe and Beyond

The cancellations affect key European hubs and popular destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and North America.

Key Affected Countries:Germany: Hamburg, FrankfurtThe Netherlands: AmsterdamSpain: Madrid, BarcelonaSwitzerland: ZurichFrance: ParisItaly: MilanUnited Kingdom: London, Gatwick

These disruptions are felt most heavily in cities with major international hubs, where travelers connecting to international destinations are being redirected to alternate flights.

Impact on Passengers: What You Should Know

Flight cancellations lead to widespread disruption for travelers, particularly those with connections or tight schedules. Passengers are experiencing the following challenges:

Missed connections: Travelers on multi‑stop journeys are at risk of missing their connecting flights due to canceled flights or delays.Rebooking and refunds: While passengers are entitled to compensation or rebooking under EU Regulation EC 261, the process can be time-consuming and may involve waiting in long queues or using limited customer service resources.Increased travel costs: Due to high demand for rebooked flights, some passengers may face higher ticket prices or limited availability on alternate flights.Travel Advice for Affected Passengers:

If your flight is canceled:

Check with your airline immediately for the next available flight or rebooking options.Request compensation for delays or cancellations, including meal vouchers, hotel stays, or transportation assistance.Consider alternative transport options, such as trains or buses, if air travel is unavailable or excessively delayed.Travel insurance may help mitigate the costs of cancellations, so ensure you have appropriate coverage for your journey.The Role of Technology in Managing Travel Disruptions

As airlines work to recover from these staffing shortages and fleet constraints, technology continues to play a crucial role in assisting both passengers and airlines. Airlines are increasingly turning to AI-powered systems and automated customer service to provide faster solutions for booking, compensation, and rebooking.

Technology is also helping airlines better manage resources by using real-time data, allowing them to reroute flights, adjust schedules, and reduce the number of canceled services. However, these systems are still in development, and the effectiveness of these measures may vary depending on the airline’s infrastructure and the scale of disruptions.

Advice for Travelers Facing Disruptions

For those flying in the coming weeks, it’s crucial to be prepared for potential cancellations or delays. Here’s how to manage disruptions efficiently:

Stay updated on flight statuses via airline apps and websites.Plan for flexibility in your travel itinerary, especially if flying with an airline affected by staff shortages.Book flights early or use flexible tickets to allow for easier changes in case of disruption.

Source: FlightAware