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.

Disruptions Hit Amsterdam Schiphol First

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s primary aviation gateways, saw the highest number of disruptions. A total of 96 flights were delayed, while 6 were cancelled, creating ripple effects for both domestic and long-haul passengers.

KLM bore the brunt of the impact, with 43 delays and 6 cancellations. Other affected airlines at Schiphol included:

• Air France – 1 delay

• Air India – 1 delay

• Delta Air Lines – 4 delays

• United Airlines – 4 delays

• Emirates – 1 delay

• easyJet – 7 delays

• Transavia – 9 delays

• Turkish Airlines – 3 delays

• American Airlines – 1 delay

• Air Canada – 1 delay

Cargo carriers such as Cargolux Airlines 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.

London Heathrow Faces Passenger Bottlenecks

At London Heathrow, the situation wasn’t much better. A total of 80 delays and 3 cancellations were recorded throughout the day. British Airways, the airport’s largest operator, experienced 35 delays, making it one of the hardest-hit carriers in the UK today.

Affected airlines included:

• British Airways – 35 delays, 1 cancellation

• United Airlines – 2 delays, 2 cancellations

• American Airlines – 6 delays

• Air India – 6 delays

• Delta Air Lines – 2 delays

• Virgin Atlantic – 3 delays

• Lufthansa – 3 delays

• TAP Air Portugal – 2 delays

• Vueling – 3 delays

• Singapore Airlines, Qantas, JetBlue, Kenya Airways, EgyptAir, El Al – all with single flight delays

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.

Frankfurt Sees Germany’s Busiest Air Hub Strained

Germany’s Frankfurt International Airport—a hub for Lufthansa—reported 126 delays and 1 cancellation. With Lufthansa accounting for 62 of those delays, the airline struggled to maintain schedule integrity for both short-haul and intercontinental services.

Other major disruptions at Frankfurt involved:

• Condor – 9 delays

• Air Dolomiti – 11 delays

• CityJet – 6 delays

• Delta Air Lines – 1 delay

• Korean Air, Japan Airlines, Air Astana – each with significant delay percentages

• easyJet – 3 delays

• Turkish Airlines – 2 delays

• United Airlines – 1 delay

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.

Athens International Adds to Southern Europe’s Woes

In southern Europe, Athens International Airport experienced 82 flight delays and 2 cancellations. While Athens handled fewer long-haul routes, the delays severely impacted regional carriers and intra-European traffic.

• Aegean Airlines – 26 delays

• Sky Express – 16 delays

• Olympic Air – 11 delays

• easyJet – 5 delays

• Middle East Airlines – 2 delays

• ITA Airways, Volotea, Gulf Air – multiple delays

• SAS – 2 cancellations

• Air Arabia, Air Serbia, Emirates, El Al, Lufthansa – all reported isolated but notable delays

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.

Total Disruptions Near 400 Flights Across Europe

Combined, the four airports recorded a staggering 384 delays and 12 cancellations, bringing the total disruptions to 396. Operational delays extended beyond Europe, affecting outbound flights to North America, Asia, and the Middle East.

AirportDelaysCancellationsTotal Disruptions

Amsterdam

96

6

102

London Heathrow

80

3

83

Frankfurt

126

1

127

Athens

82

2

84

Total

384

12

396

Travelers Advised to Check Status and Arrive Early

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.

What’s Causing the Surge in Operational Challenges?

Industry insiders point to a mix of compounding factors:

• Staffing shortages, particularly in airside and technical roles

• Summer peak travel volume, with demand exceeding prepandemic levels in parts of Europe

• Aircraft turnaround inefficiencies and logistical misalignments

• Unscheduled maintenance or equipment swaps stretching aircraft availability

• Tighter slot controls and ATC constraints across congested European airspace

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.

Airlines Most Affected Today

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

• KLM (Amsterdam)

• British Airways (London Heathrow)

• Lufthansa (Frankfurt)

• Aegean Airlines (Athens)

• United Airlines (multiple hubs)

• Delta Air Lines

• easyJet

• Turkish Airlines

• Air France

• Emirates

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.

Final Word for Passengers

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 (TTW)