Sunday, June 29, 2025

Around 400 flights were delayed or cancelled today at major European airports—Amsterdam Schiphol, London Heathrow, Frankfurt International, and Athens International—as operational challenges disrupted schedules across the continent, impacting leading airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, Emirates, United, and others. The surge in delays was triggered by a combination of staff shortages, tight aircraft turnaround times, and infrastructure strain amid peak summer travel demand, leaving thousands of passengers facing long waits, rebookings, and chaotic airport conditions.

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s primary aviation gateways, saw the highest number of disruptions. A total of , while , creating ripple effects for both domestic and long-haul passengers.

KLM bore the brunt of the impact, with and . Other affected airlines at Schiphol included:

Cargo carriers such as also reported delays of up to 100% for their scheduled departures.

The issues, according to airport staff, stemmed from strained ground operations, tighter aircraft turnaround schedules, and unanticipated aircraft swaps. Several passengers reported hours-long waits and a lack of clear information at boarding gates.

At , the situation wasn’t much better. A total of and were recorded throughout the day. British Airways, the airport’s largest operator, experienced , making it one of the hardest-hit carriers in the UK today.

Affected airlines included:

Airport operations teams cited runway congestion and short staffing in airside logistics as leading causes of delay, particularly for transatlantic flights and codeshare operations. Flights to the U.S. and Canada faced some of the worst bottlenecks, as U.S.-bound passengers waited for rebooking options or ground clearance.

Germany’s —a hub for Lufthansa—reported and . With Lufthansa accounting for , the airline struggled to maintain schedule integrity for both short-haul and intercontinental services.

Other major disruptions at Frankfurt involved:

While Frankfurt faced fewer cancellations than its European counterparts, airport sources revealed that the delay figures were worsened by aircraft repositioning issues and reduced staff in aircraft refueling and cargo handling services.

In southern Europe, experienced and . While Athens handled fewer long-haul routes, the delays severely impacted regional carriers and intra-European traffic.

In some cases, turnaround crews were unable to reposition aircraft in time for back-to-back departures, leading to knock-on effects throughout the day.

Combined, the four airports recorded a and , bringing the total disruptions to 396. Operational delays extended beyond Europe, affecting outbound flights to North America, Asia, and the Middle East.

Airports across Europe issued travel advisories urging passengers to arrive earlier than usual and check their flight status frequently. Airlines are also asking passengers to use self-service check-in tools, where available, and be prepared for changes in boarding gates and last-minute aircraft switches.

Some travelers at Heathrow and Schiphol reported receiving rerouting options via airline mobile apps, while others were offered overnight accommodations due to missed connections.

Industry insiders point to a mix of compounding factors:

With school holidays starting across several European countries, the travel volume is only expected to rise over the next two weeks. Airports and airlines are preparing contingency plans, but without relief in staffing and ground operations, further disruptions are likely.

Across the four airports, the following airlines faced the most significant delays and disruptions:

Nearly 400 flights were delayed or cancelled today at Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt, and Athens airports as major carriers including Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, Emirates, and United faced severe operational challenges caused by staffing shortages and peak summer travel congestion.

Today’s widespread delays and cancellations are a stark reminder of how fragile Europe’s aviation infrastructure remains under pressure. Whether you’re flying for business or leisure, keep your travel plans flexible, monitor airline alerts closely, and give yourself extra time at the airport.

If you’re flying through Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt, or Athens in the next few days, prepare for possible schedule changes, and check for updates directly from your airline or airport authority. With around 400 disruptions reported today, the ripple effect may stretch well into the week

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