Flights Cancelled Over Colombia As Bogotá, And Others Cancel 126 And Delay 242, Disrupting Major Airlines

Written By: Ryan Rashid

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August 11, 2026 1:04 AM

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Flight cancellations skyrocketed as Colombia is under massive pressure today after a catastrophic earthquake led to 126 cancellations and 242 delays across Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, Cali, and more.
El Dorado in Bogotá emerged as the worst-hit airport today. Avianca was by far the hardest-hit airline, accounting for over 70% of all cancellations across major airports. LATAM Colombia, Copa Airlines, and Iberia were the next airlines with the most cancellations.
The disruption extended across José María Córdova, Rafael Núñez, Alfonso Bonilla Aragón, Matecaña, Guillermo León Valencia, El Edén and more airports.
The aviation disruption comes as Colombia deals with the aftermath of the country’s strongest earthquake in a decade. The quake struck near San José del Palmar in Chocó, around 400 kilometers west of Bogotá, at a depth of about 107 kilometers, according to the US Geological Survey and Colombian authorities. It was also felt in neighboring Ecuador and Panama.

• El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá was the hardest-hit airport, with 134 delays and 57 cancellations.
• Avianca recorded 89 cancellations, representing 70.6% of all cancellations across the airports.
• LATAM Colombia recorded 32 cancellations, followed by Copa Airlines with 3 and Iberia with 2.
• Six airports have suspended operations following structural assessments after the earthquake.

What Caused The Disruptions In Colombia?

The trigger was a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10. It was described by authorities as Colombia’s strongest earthquake in a decade.

The earthquake triggered evacuations, rescue operations and concerns over aftershocks. The earthquake has also claimed several lives, with authorities continuing to assess the human toll. The tremor was also felt in neighboring Ecuador and Panama.

For aviation, the most immediate consequence has been the suspension of operations at regional airports while infrastructure is inspected. A surge in searches for “Colombia earthquake” and “earthquake today” is being seen amid the latest disruptions.
Colombian civil aviation authorities confirmed suspensions at Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura.

Colombian Airports Suspended After Deadly Earthquake

Flights have been suspended at six airports in western Colombia following the earthquake, with authorities inspecting airport infrastructure for structural damage.

The six airports are:

• La Nubia Airport — Manizales
• Matecaña Airport — Pereira
• El Edén Airport — Armenia
• El Caraño Airport — Quibdó
• Santa Ana Airport — Cartago
• Gerardo Tobar López Airport — Buenaventura

The closures add another layer of uncertainty for passengers already facing cancellations and delays at airports across the country.

Avianca Eases Travel Rules for Passengers Impacted by Colombia Earthquake

Avianca Airlines has announced flexible travel options for passengers with confirmed Avianca tickets on direct or connecting domestic flights within Colombia scheduled for August 10, 2026, following the seismic activity.

Passengers can change their travel date by up to 15 days after the original travel date without change fees or fare differences, subject to availability and travel in the same cabin. They can also change their route using common points within Colombia, subject to availability.

Return journeys booked on the same ticket, or separately with Avianca, can also be modified under the same conditions. Passengers can additionally request refunds for unused flight segments according to Avianca’s applicable refund policies.

Passengers who booked through Avianca’s website, contact center or sales office can submit refund requests through Avianca. Those who booked through a travel agency should contact the agency directly.

The options apply to all fare types, but remain subject to seat availability and do not provide compensation for missed connections.

For safety reasons, operations remain suspended at Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura while structural assessments are carried out.

Hardest-Hit Colombian Airports Today

El Dorado

El Dorado in Bogotá recorded 134 delays and 57 cancellations, making it the most disrupted airport. Avianca accounted for 61 delays and 40 cancellations, while LATAM Colombia recorded 21 delays and 15 cancellations. Clic Air recorded another 10 delays, while Iberia had two cancellations. This resulted in a sharp rise for “Bogota earthquake”searches.

José María Córdova

José María Córdova recorded 68 delays and 10 cancellations. Avianca was the biggest contributor with 27 delays and six cancellations. JetSMART recorded 11 delays, while Copa Colombia recorded eight and LATAM Colombia seven delays.

Matecaña

Matecaña in Pereira recorded 32 cancellations. Avianca accounted for 22 cancellations, LATAM Colombia for seven and Copa Airlines for three. The airport was subsequently among the six facilities where operations were suspended following the earthquake and structural checks.

Airlines Most Disrupted by Flight Cancellations In Colombia

Avianca

Avianca recorded 89 cancellations across the seven airports, making it the most disrupted airline by a substantial margin. Its cancellations came from Guillermo León Valencia, José María Córdova, Rafael Núñez, Alfonso Bonilla Aragón, Matecaña, El Dorado, and others.

LATAM Colombia

LATAM Colombia recorded 32 cancellations. El Dorado accounted for 15 of them, followed by seven at Matecaña and four each at José María Córdova and Alfonso Bonilla Aragón.

What Can Affected Travelers Do?

• Check the latest status of the flight directly with the airline before leaving for the airport.
• Travelers flying through El Dorado International Airport, or other affected airports should allow extra time for changes and potential disruption.
• If an airport is closed or operations are suspended, follow instructions from the airline and airport authorities rather than attempting to travel to the terminal.
• Keep booking confirmations, boarding passes and receipts available when requesting a rebooking or refund.
• Travelers with connecting flights should check every segment of their itinerary, not only the first flight.
• Follow official safety instructions in areas affected by the earthquake and avoid unnecessary travel into severely affected regions.

Overview of Flight Cancellations And Delays

The disruption is being felt across a wide network of Colombian aviation, with Avianca, LATAM Colombia, Copa Airlines, Copa Colombia, JetSMART, Clic Air and Iberia among the airlines disrupted.
Avianca’s impact is particularly pronounced. It recorded 106 listed delays across the seven airports and 89 cancellations, while LATAM Colombia recorded 32 cancellations. Copa Airlines, Copa Colombia and JetSMART also recorded significant numbers of delays.
The largest concentration of disruption was in Bogotá, where El Dorado recorded 191 combined delays and cancellations. Medellín also saw substantial disruption through José María Córdova, while Pereira, Cali, Armenia and Cartagena were affected to varying degrees.
The figures underline the scale of the aviation fallout as Colombia continues rescue and infrastructure assessment efforts after the earthquake. With six regional airports suspended and inspections continuing, passengers across the country are facing an uncertain travel picture while authorities prioritize safety.


The data has been extensively curated by our editorial team using real-time aviation figures recorded on 10 August 2026 at 2:35 pm ET USA

Primary Source: FlightAware.

Verification Protocol: All statistics have been independently reviewed and cross-checked by our human editorial desk. Timestamped records, data logs and feed snapshots are securely archived internally to support historical accuracy and editorial transparency.

Note: Real-time flight-tracking figures reflect active airspace and operational data. Minor variations may occur when compared with information displayed at individual airport terminals or airline departure gates.

Travellers are advised to check directly with their respective airlines and airports for the latest flight status, schedule changes and operational updates.