Hundreds of travelers across Europe faced major disruption on 18 May as airlines and airports dealt with widespread delays, cancellations, and terminal congestion.
Major hubs in France, England, Italy, Greece, Norway, Denmark, Germany, and Turkey were affected as operational issues created long queues and uncertain travel plans.
According to the reported data, airlines cancelled 22 flights and delayed 908 flights, leaving many passengers waiting for rebooking updates, missed connections, and revised departure times.
The disruption affected several major carriers, including British Airways, Finnair, SAS, Pegasus Airlines, Lufthansa, Norwegian Air Sweden, Swiss, and Icelandair.
Airports in Paris, London, Rome, Athens, Oslo, Copenhagen, Berlin, and Istanbul were among the key locations experiencing pressure.
Major Airports Hit by Delays and Cancellations
France’s Charles de Gaulle/Roissy Airport was among the worst-hit hubs, recording 202 delays and two cancellations. As one of Europe’s busiest international airports, disruption at Paris quickly affected passengers travelling across connecting routes.
In England, London Heathrow also faced serious congestion, with 151 delays and four cancellations. Heathrow had one of the highest cancellation totals in Western Europe, adding pressure to passengers waiting inside busy terminals.
Germany’s Berlin-Brandenburg Airport reported 78 delays and one cancellation, showing that even airports with fewer cancellations were still struggling with schedule reliability.
Italy, Greece and Turkey Also Under Pressure
Southern Europe and the Mediterranean region were also heavily affected. Italy’s Rome Fiumicino Airport recorded 150 delays and one cancellation, creating problems for passengers heading through one of Italy’s main gateways.
In Greece, Athens International Airport reported 142 delays and two cancellations. The disruption affected travelers moving through the Greek capital during a busy travel period.
Turkey’s Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport also experienced pressure, with 54 delays and five cancellations. The relatively high cancellation figure made it one of the more disrupted airports in the dataset.
Scandinavian Airports See Travel Setbacks
Northern Europe experienced fewer total delays than some larger Western European hubs, but passengers were still affected. Copenhagen Airport in Denmark recorded 77 delays and five cancellations, making it one of the most impacted Scandinavian airports.
Norway’s Oslo Gardermoen Airport appeared more resilient but still recorded 46 delays and two cancellations. Even smaller disruption at northern hubs can create problems for passengers with tight connections or limited onward flight options.
Airlines Struggle to Maintain Schedules
Several airlines faced operational challenges during the disruption. Lufthansa recorded the highest number of delays among listed carriers, with 171 delayed flights and one cancellation.
British Airways followed with 88 delays and two cancellations, affecting passengers travelling through UK and European routes.
Pegasus Airlines reported 59 delays and two cancellations, while Finnair saw 52 delays and two cancellations. Swiss kept cancellations low with one flight cancelled, but still recorded 43 delays.
Scandinavian carrier SAS had four cancellations and 41 delays, while Norwegian Air Sweden reported three cancellations and 21 delays. Icelandair was among the least affected, with one cancellation and nine delays.
What Passengers Should Do Now
Affected passengers should check flight status through official airline apps and airport websites before travelling to the airport. Those facing cancellations should contact their airline quickly for rebooking, rerouting, or refund options.
Under EU261 and UK passenger rights rules, travelers may be entitled to care, meals, hotel accommodation, transport, or compensation depending on the cause and length of the disruption.
Passengers should keep receipts for any extra expenses and avoid relying only on airport service desks, where queues may be long.
Conclusion
Europe’s flight network faced a difficult day as 22 cancellations and 908 delays disrupted major routes. With Paris, London, Rome, Athens, Oslo, Copenhagen, Berlin, and Istanbul affected, travelers should remain flexible, monitor real-time updates, and stay in close contact with airlines until schedules stabilize.
