It is feared 50,000 passengers could be affected by the mass cancellations and disruption expected to last until October 2025
It is feared the cancellations could affect as many as 50,000 fliers (Image: IronHeart via Getty Images)
A major airline has cancelled 1,400 flights over the summer months, throwing thousands of planned holidays into chaos. Swiss International Air Lines (also known as SWISS) operate out of several UK hubs, including Edinburgh Airport.
And there are fears the cancellations could affect as many as 50,000 travellers as they also fly from major hubs; London Heathrow, London City and Manchester. Experts say that the move by the respected airline could create a ripple effect across Europe and beyond.
SWISS run flights from Edinburgh to Zurich, Switzerland, daily and the disruption is expected to last until October 2025. The majority of their flights, of which they have around 10-15 per day, take off from London Heathrow.
It is believed that a knock-on effect on those flying to their Zurich hub to catch connecting flights could be impacted too. Anton Radchenk, Aviation Expert & Founder of AirAdvisor, warned that the cancellations are the ‘tip of the iceberg’, reports the Mirror.
Radchenk said that the situation is reflective of wider issues in European aviation. He said: “2025 has already been notorious for flight cancellations, especially due to persistent industrial action and ATC issues, be it in Germany, Italy, Greece, France or Finland.
“With this latest wave of SWISS cancellations, summer just got more complicated for UK travellers. We’re not seeing a demand problem but a staffing and scheduling bottleneck.
“Flights are getting axed not because people aren’t lying, but because airlines don’t have enough fully trained pilots to operate them.”
SWISS fly out of Edinburgh Air to Zurich daily (Image: Nirian via Getty Images)SWISS Cancellations – will I get my money back?
If you’re impacted by the axing, you will be entitled to a full refund and free re-routing under the EU261 regulation. If your flight’s departure is less than 14 days from the time of the SWISS cancellation announcement, you’ll get between £220 and £520, depending on the distance of the flight and length of delay.
“With these proactive adjustments to our flight schedule, our aim is to maintain the highest possible level of stability and reliability for our passengers,” SWISS said in a statement sent to the Mirror.
“On long-haul routes, this affects flights to Shanghai until the end of June, and to Chicago until the end of June, as well as during September and October.
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“On short- and medium-haul routes, this affects flights from Geneva Airport to various destinations between early May and the end of October. From Zurich Airport, we will have to cancel individual flights to various European destinations in August and September.
“We regret that we are unable to offer the affected connections as originally planned. In such cases, we inform the affected customers as early as possible. Schedule adjustments are made as far in advance as possible to minimise inconvenience and to find the best possible alternative travel solutions for our passengers.”
The huge blow to Brits is another reminder to always book your travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday. This can help protect you from losing money after paying for hotels and excursions etc which you may not be able to attend due to flights being cancelled.
Travel insurance experts at Staysure advise finding a policy that covers injuries, cancellations, and lost or stolen items as a bare minimum. “If you’re off on a cruise or snow-slope adventure, it’s important to remember that you will need to take out specific cover for those types of trips,” they said.
“If you’ll be doing activities such as watersports or hiking, ensure your policy covers these… Leaving things till the last minute may mean that you’re not covered if anything goes wrong in the build-up to your trip and while away.”
If you’re an avid globe trotter, booking annual insurance rather than taking out a policy for each individual trip can often work out better value for money. Plus, it saves the hassle of filling out multiple forms.