Thousands of passengers have been left stranded at airports across Europe after a major disruption hit flights ahead of the summer holidays. Nearly 2,000 flights have been delayed or cancelled at some of the busiest hubs, with airlines including Ryanair and British Airways struggling to maintain schedules.
The disruption has affected Spain, England, France, Italy, Ireland and the Netherlands. Reports indicate 1,899 flights have been delayed and at least 50 cancelled, impacting both domestic and international routes. Major airports in London, Paris, Rome and Madrid have been among the worst hit, with London experiencing heavy delays on departures and arrivals, Paris facing backlogs on short-haul European routes, and Rome and Madrid reporting operational slowdowns due to scheduling bottlenecks.
Several issues have contributed to the chaos, including air traffic control constraints, weather variability, staffing challenges and high travel demand. Passengers have reported spending hours waiting at departure gates, missing connecting flights, receiving non-timely updates from airlines, and facing limited availability of alternative flights.
British Airways has offered passengers the option to rebook on the next available flight, provided refunds for cancelled services, and advised passengers to check flight statuses before heading to airports. While there are signs that operations are gradually returning to normal, a full return may take some time.
