Brussels, 8 October 2025 — Europe’s aviation network faced another day of disruption, with more than 5,000 flight delays and over 40 cancellations reported across leading airports. Operational pressures, staffing shortages, and congestion continue to weigh heavily on the continent’s busiest hubs.
Top 10 Airports by Disruption (Major Hubs)
- Amsterdam Schiphol (Netherlands): 558 delays (79%), 4 cancellations (1%)
- Paris Charles de Gaulle (France): 520 delays (76%), 10 cancellations (1%)
- London Heathrow (UK): 515 delays (75%), 3 cancellations
- Frankfurt (Germany): 486 delays (71%), 0 cancellations
- Madrid Barajas (Spain): 454 delays (74%), 1 cancellation
- Munich (Germany): 345 delays (65%), 2 cancellations
- Rome Fiumicino (Italy): 338 delays (74%), 0 cancellations
- Barcelona El Prat (Spain): 326 delays (62%), 1 cancellation
- Zurich (Switzerland): 276 delays (68%), 2 cancellations
- Lisbon Humberto Delgado (Portugal): 268 delays (83%), 1 cancellation
Secondary Airports by Disruption
- Amsterdam Schiphol (Netherlands): 320 delays (45%), 6 cancellations (1%)
- Warsaw Chopin (Poland): 78 delays (26%), 0 cancellations
- Paris Charles de Gaulle (France): 68 delays (10%), 7 cancellations (1%)
- Manchester (UK): 67 delays (23%), 2 cancellations (1%)
- Rome Fiumicino (Italy): 69 delays (15%), 0 cancellations
- Lisbon Humberto Delgado (Portugal): 67 delays (21%), 1 cancellation
- Athens Eleftherios Venizelos (Greece): 66 delays (16%), 1 cancellation
- Munich (Germany): 63 delays (12%), 2 cancellations
- Barcelona El Prat (Spain): 62 delays (12%), 2 cancellations
- Madrid Barajas (Spain): 62 delays (10%), 0 cancellations
Context and Outlook
The figures highlight the scale of disruption across Europe’s interconnected airspace, where delays at major hubs ripple across regional and international routes. Analysts point to staffing shortages, air traffic control constraints, and seasonal demand pressures as key drivers.
With the autumn travel season underway, airlines are urging passengers to check flight status updates frequently and allow additional time at airports. Industry leaders warn that without structural reforms, Europe’s aviation system will remain vulnerable to cascading operational shocks.
Sources: Eurocontrol data; airport operational reports; industry monitoring services.
