Published on
November 18, 2025
Travel disruptions are sweeping across Europe as Lufthansa, Swiss, Helvetic, and LEVEL face significant challenges due to adverse weather conditions. With 46 cancellations and a staggering 1,002 delays, passengers are experiencing serious travel hiccups. The cold weather, which has affected key regions such as the Netherlands, France, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the UK, and Germany, has caused major disruptions at airports in cities like Amsterdam, Paris, Sarajevo, London, and Memmingerberg.
As temperatures plummet, flights are being delayed or cancelled, straining both airlines and passengers. Travelers flying with Lufthansa, Swiss, Helvetic, and LEVEL are particularly impacted, with operational disruptions felt across several European countries. The cold weather’s toll on air travel has led to delays, cancellations, and logistical issues, leaving many stranded or rerouted. These disruptions are expected to continue as winter conditions worsen.
Airports, Cities and Countries Affected by Cancellations and Delays
One of Europe’s busiest hubs, Amsterdam Schiphol, recorded 13 cancellations and 178 delays. This major disruption affects both departing and arriving passengers in the Netherlands. London Heathrow faced 6 cancellations and 133 delays, impacting travellers for the UK’s primary international airport. Germany’s key airport, Frankfurt International, reported 6 cancellations and 171 delays, creating serious ripple‑effects across flight schedules. Paris Orly logged 4 cancellations and 69 delays, impacting access to and from France. Zurich Airport recorded 5 cancellations and 144 delays, disrupting travellers through Switzerland’s major gateway.
Brussels Airport saw 2 cancellations and 84 delays, affecting Belgium’s air travel flow. London City airport dealt with 5 cancellations and 25 delays, further adding to UK’s air disruption. Madrid‑Barajas recorded 1 cancellation and 86 delays, impacting Spain’s busiest airport. Barcelona International logged 1 cancellation and 66 delays—another Spanish airport under pressure. Munich International noted 1 cancellation and 39 delays, adding to the German airport disruption tally. Sarajevo International recorded 2 cancellations and only 7 delays, though smaller scale, still part of the wider issue.
Why These Disruptions Are Happening Now
Weather plays a major role. In the UK, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber Cold‑Health Alert for the Yorkshire & Humber, North West and North East regions, while all other English regions are under a yellow alert from 12 pm on Monday 17 November to 8 am on Saturday 22 November. These alerts warn that expected low temperatures will increase use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and put individuals over 65 or those with pre‑existing conditions at higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, chest infections.
In the Netherlands, after the first official frost of the season, conditions are changing: the week ahead signals colder temperatures, potential hailstones, wet snow, strong winds and highs barely above 5 °C. That kind of weather can easily lead to flight disruption—icing, de‑icing delays, and logistic hold‑ups.
Hence: the twin effect of cold weather across Europe and already stressed airports equals cancellation and delay numbers going up.
Airlines Affected by the Disruptions
The cold weather across Europe has significantly impacted major airlines, with KLM (Netherlands) reporting 12 cancellations (1%) and 107 delays (15%), highlighting the strain caused by adverse weather conditions in the region. Air France (France) also experienced disruptions, with 4 cancellations (0%) and 86 delays (13%), affecting travelers throughout France. Lufthansa (Germany) saw 3 cancellations (0%) and 124 delays (14%), further illustrating the operational challenges caused by the ongoing cold spell. Similarly, British Airways (United Kingdom) faced 3 cancellations (0%) and 77 delays (10%), while its subsidiary BA CityFlyer recorded 2 cancellations (1%) and 20 delays (16%), contributing to the overall disruption in UK air travel.
In Switzerland, Swiss recorded 2 cancellations (0%) and a high 66 delays (25%), indicating significant operational strain, while Helvetic reported 1 cancellation (2%) and a notable 18 delays (46%), particularly affecting regional flights. SAS (Scandinavia), serving Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, saw 1 cancellation (0%) and 53 delays (8%), reflecting moderate weather-related impacts. Brussels Airlines (Belgium) experienced 2 cancellations (1%) and 36 delays (18%), showing the challenges faced by Belgian carriers, while LEVEL (Spain), a low-cost airline, faced 1 cancellation (11%) and 1 delay (11%), marking a relatively higher percentage of cancellations given its smaller scale of operations.
What Affected Passengers Can Do Now
If you’re among the people whose travel plans are impacted, here’s a plan (yes—my service extends beyond grumbling):
- Monitor your airline’s website, check airport boards, download official apps. Delays and cancellations are dynamic. Avoid being caught off guard.
- Ask about re‑booking options, request refunds if applicable, and inquire about compensation for delays or cancellations as per EU regulation and your carrier’s policy.
- Under EU passenger rights laws, you may be entitled to meals, accommodation, transport or compensation depending on delay length and reason. If weather is the cause, the airline’s liability may differ—but don’t assume you’re out of options.
- If your flight is cancelled, ask about flying via a different hub, or another carrier. Flexibility may get you to your destination sooner. With so many airports impacted across Europe, switching airports or carriers might help.
- Pack essentials in your carry‑on: snacks, water, warm clothing, entertainment. With 1002 total delays across airports, waiting isn’t a hypothetical—be ready. And with 46 cancellations, it’s wise to have a backup plan.
- If you’re travelling in or through the UK or Netherlands (or Europe generally), check weather warnings. Icy roads, snow, hail can affect ground transport to/from airports. Cold‑health alerts in UK mean hospitals and transport services might be under strain too.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just a one‑off inconvenience. Across Europe’s major airports from Amsterdam to Sarajevo, passengers are facing real disruption. The combination of weather and airport pressure means 46 cancellations and 1002 delays—a big number. If you’re planning to fly soon within or through Europe, expect disruption, act proactively, and give yourself extra time.
Source: FlightAware and Affected Airports
