BRUSSELS, Oct. 20, 2025 — Thousands of passengers across Europe experienced travel disruption today as airlines and airports reported widespread cancellations and delays. According to data compiled by AirHelp and EUROCONTROL, at least 69 flights were cancelled and 823 delayed across the continent’s busiest airports, including London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt, and Stockholm Arlanda AirHelp EUROCONTROL.
Causes of Disruption
- Weather: Fog and heavy rain in parts of northern and western Europe, particularly the UK and France, led to reduced runway capacity and slower turnaround times.
- Air Traffic Control (ATC): EUROCONTROL noted ongoing staffing shortages in several national ATC centres, compounding delays during peak morning and evening traffic EUROCONTROL.
- Operational Strain: Airlines including Air France, SAS, Finnair, and British Airways reported knock‑on effects from earlier disruptions, with aircraft and crew rotations out of sync AirHelp.
Current Situation
- Cancellations: 69 flights across multiple carriers, concentrated in northern Europe.
- Delays: Over 800 flights delayed, with average delays ranging from 35 to 55 minutes.
- Traffic Levels: EUROCONTROL reported 33,560 daily flights last week, slightly above 2019 levels, underscoring that the network is operating at near‑full capacity EUROCONTROL.
Forecast for Coming Days
Analysts expect continued moderate disruption through mid‑week, particularly in northern Europe, as unsettled weather persists. However, no large‑scale strikes or system‑wide shutdowns are forecast. EUROCONTROL’s outlook suggests punctuality rates will remain around 70% for arrivals and 65% for departures, below long‑term averages EUROCONTROL.
Passenger Impact
Travelers are advised to check flight status before departure, allow extra time for connections, and be aware of their rights under EU Regulation EC261, which provides compensation for significant delays or cancellations not caused by extraordinary circumstances.
Summary: Europe’s skies remain busy, but today’s 69 cancellations and 823 delays highlight the fragility of the system under pressure from weather, staffing shortages, and operational bottlenecks. While disruptions are expected to ease later in the week, punctuality remains below average, and passengers should prepare for continued delays.
Sources: AirHelp (20 Oct 2025) AirHelp; EUROCONTROL Aviation Overview (Oct 2025) EUROCONTROL; FlightAware live data FlightAware.
