Published on
October 29, 2025
Thousands of passengers were grounded in Europe as Lufthansa, SAS, KLM, Icelandair, and British Airways faced 60 flight cancellations and 1,840 delays. The disruptions affected Reykjavik, Oslo, Amsterdam, Glasgow, Munich, and more due to operational issues. The chaos rippled across key European airports, leaving travelers stranded and causing widespread frustration. Lufthansa, SAS, KLM, Icelandair, and British Airways were among the major carriers hit by the disruptions, with Icelandair experiencing the highest cancellation rate at 47%. The 60 cancellations accounted for nearly 3.7% of flights across the affected airlines, while 1,840 delays added to the operational turmoil, making up approximately 19.64% of flights scheduled for the day.
Airports like Keflavik in Iceland, Schiphol in the Netherlands, and Heathrow in the UK were particularly impacted, with Keflavik Airport seeing a 31% cancellation rate and Schiphol experiencing delays that affected hundreds of passengers. Cities such as Reykjavik, Oslo, Glasgow, and Munich also became epicenters of travel chaos as passengers waited for hours with little information on when their flights would depart.
The operational challenges faced by these carriers have raised concerns about the long-term impact on European travel, with some wondering if these disruptions will lead to further instability in the coming weeks. The ripple effect of these delays and cancellations is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of air travel in the face of logistical challenges.
European Airline Cancellations and Delays
The recent data on cancellations and delays reveals the challenges faced by European airlines. Icelandair had the highest cancellation percentage at 47%, while Virgin Atlantic led with a 25% delay rate. In total, there were 60 cancellations, accounting for an average of 3.7% of flights, and 1,840 delays, averaging 19.64%. The figures highlight the operational difficulties affecting travelers across major European carriers.
AirlineCancelled (#)Delayed (#)Icelandair449Helvetic2407Air France2116KLM287Virgin Atlantic210LEVEL1559Ryanair1265easyJet1119Lufthansa198British Airways184SAS133Emerald Airlines127El Al122SAS Link04Total601840Cancellations and Delays at European Airports (By Origin)
The data from major European airports reveals a significant number of cancellations and delays. In total, there were 52 cancellations, accounting for 7.93% of all flights. Meanwhile, 733 flights were delayed, which represents 14% of the total flights. Iceland’s Keflavik Airport had the highest cancellation rate at 31%, while Reykjavik and Akureyri airports experienced notable delays. The overall figures reflect operational challenges affecting travelers across Europe.Airport (IATA Code)CountryCancelled (#)Cancelled (%)Delayed (#)Delayed (%)Keflavik Int’l (KEF)Iceland1831.001831.00Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)Netherlands40.0011917.00London Heathrow (LHR)United Kingdom30.008912.00Dublin Int’l (DUB)Ireland30.006418.00Charles de Gaulle/Roissy (CDG)France20.0014120.00Frankfurt Int’l (FRA)Germany20.0010516.00Munich Int’l (MUC)Germany20.005310.00Malpensa Int’l (MXP)Italy20.004312.00Zurich (Kloten) (ZRH)Switzerland20.003910.00Copenhagen (CPH)Denmark20.00327.00Edinburgh (EDI)United Kingdom21.001911.00Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS)France21.0097.00Reykjavik (RKV)Iceland541.0000.00Akureyri (AEY)Iceland337.00225.00Total527.9373314.00
Cancellations and Delays at European Airports (By Destination)
The latest data on cancellations and delays at European airports highlights some significant figures. Keflavik International Airport (Iceland) experienced the highest cancellation rate at 50%, along with Reykjavik and Akureyri airports, which also faced notable cancellations. In total, there were 47 cancellations, representing an average of 18.75%, and 327 delayed flights, amounting to 11.5% of the total flights. These numbers reflect operational challenges faced by travelers at major airports across Europe.
Airport (IATA Code)CountryCancelled (#)Cancelled (%)Delayed (#)Delayed (%)Keflavik Int’l (KEF)Iceland2750.00611.00London Heathrow (LHR)United Kingdom30.008812.00Copenhagen (CPH)Denmark30.00358.00Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)Netherlands20.0010816.00Malpensa Int’l (MXP)Italy20.004714.00Zurich (Kloten) (ZRH)Switzerland20.004111.00Reykjavik (RKV)Iceland550.00220.00Akureyri (AEY)Iceland350.0000.00Total4718.7532711.50
Thousands of passengers were grounded in Europe as Lufthansa, SAS, KLM, Icelandair, and British Airways faced 60 flight cancellations and 1,840 delays, affecting travel across Reykjavik, Oslo, Amsterdam, Glasgow, Munich, and more due to operational issues.
Conclusion
Thousands of passengers were grounded in Europe as Lufthansa, SAS, KLM, Icelandair, and British Airways faced 60 flight cancellations and 1,840 delays. The disruptions, caused by operational issues, affected major airports in Reykjavik, Oslo, Amsterdam, Glasgow, Munich, and more, highlighting the ongoing challenges airlines face in maintaining smooth operations across Europe.
