France, Spain, UK, Netherlands and more Suffer Major Travel Chaos as EasyJet, Vueling, British, Emerald, Pegasus, and other Airlines Cancel 74 Flights, Stranding Thousands across London, Paris, Barcelona, Dublin, Zurich, Belfast and others

Published on December 9, 2025

Europe’s air travel network is facing chaos as 74 flights have been cancelled in the past 24 hours across major airlines including EasyJet, Vueling, British Airways, Emerald Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, and Air France. As the holiday season reaches its peak, this surge in cancellations is creating massive disruption at key airports like London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Barcelona El Prat, Dublin, and Zurich. Passengers are left scrambling for alternative travel options, with thousands stranded in major hubs, uncertain about their next steps. With heightened demand and weather challenges complicating operations, travelers are facing significant delays, long queues, and frustration.

Here’s a complete breakdown of the cancelled flights, the major airports affected, and the cause of these widespread disruptions.

EasyJet: Cancellations, Major European Hubs Face Travel Delays

EasyJet, one of Europe’s largest low-cost carriers, has had a tough day as 12 flights have been cancelled, impacting several high-traffic routes. The most affected airports include London Gatwick, Edinburgh, Amsterdam Schiphol, and Paris Orly.

Cancelled EasyJet Flights:

• EZY7848: Bristol (BRS) → Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) at 13:30 GMT
• EZY7721: Porto (OPO) → Paris Orly (ORY) at 17:55 WET
• EZY8674: Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) → London Gatwick (LGW) at 19:20 CET
• EZY3301: Edinburgh (EDI) → Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) at 18:30 GMT
• EZY3243: Edinburgh (EDI) → Paris CDG (LFPG) at 18:45 GMT
• EZY305: Edinburgh (EDI) → London Luton (LTN) at 18:50 GMT
• EZY8675: London Gatwick (LGW) → Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) at 20:15 GMT
• EZY2264: Krakow (KRK) → Manchester (MAN) at 21:25 CET
• EZY306: London Luton (LTN) → Edinburgh (EDI) at 20:35 GMT
• EZY3302: Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) → Edinburgh (EDI) at 21:40 CET
• EZY7722: Paris Orly (ORY) → Porto (OPO) at 21:40 CET
• EZY3244: Charles de Gaulle (CDG) → Edinburgh (EDI) at 22:10 CET

Major Affected Airports:

• Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), London Gatwick (LGW), Paris Orly (ORY), Edinburgh (EDI): These airports are seeing multiple cancellations, affecting both international and domestic connections.
• Bristol (BRS), Porto (OPO), Krakow (KRK), Manchester (MAN): Regional airports also disrupted by the cancellations.

EasyJet attributes these cancellations to staffing shortages and weather-related delays.

Vueling Airlines: Cancellations, Spanish Domestic Routes Severely Affected

Spanish low-cost airline Vueling has seen 5 of its flights cancelled, mostly affecting routes within Spain. The airline has cited technical issues and air traffic control delays as the main reasons behind these cancellations.

Cancelled Vueling Flights:

• VLG1430: Barcelona (BCN) → Bilbao (BIO) at 15:25 CET
• VLG2014: Barcelona (BCN) → Granada (GRX) at 15:50 CET
• VLG1431: Bilbao (BIO) → Barcelona (BCN) at 17:20 CET
• VLG2015: Granada (GRX) → Barcelona (BCN) at 18:05 CET
• VLG1573: Asturias (OVD) → Barcelona (BCN) at 23:10 CET

Major Affected Airports:

• Barcelona (BCN): This major hub for Vueling was severely impacted, with cancellations affecting both international and domestic flights.
• Bilbao (BIO), Granada (GRX), Asturias (OVD): Regional airports in Spain saw cancellations mainly on domestic routes, causing widespread disruption for travelers.

British Airways: Cancellations, Heathrow Majorly Affected

British Airways has suffered the most cancellations today, with a total of 20 flights grounded. London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) has borne the brunt of the disruption, with both inbound and outbound flights heavily affected.

Cancelled British Airways Flights:

• BAW813: Copenhagen (CPH) → London Heathrow (LHR) at 15:25 CET
• BAW1390: London Heathrow (LHR) → Belfast City (BHD) at 06:25 GMT (Tue)
• BAW1438: London Heathrow (LHR) → Edinburgh (EDI) at 06:35 GMT (Tue)
• BAW1472: London Heathrow (LHR) → Glasgow (GLA) at 06:35 GMT (Tue)
• BAW824: London Heathrow (LHR) → Dublin (DUB) at 06:40 GMT (Tue)
• BAW708: London Heathrow (LHR) → Zurich (ZRH) at 06:45 GMT (Tue)
• BAW1358: London Heathrow (LHR) → Manchester (MAN) at 06:50 GMT (Tue)
• BAW474: London Heathrow (LHR) → Barcelona (BCN) at 07:30 GMT (Tue)
• BAW754: London Heathrow (LHR) → Basel‑Mulhouse (EAP) at 07:45 GMT (Tue)
• BAW630: London Heathrow (LHR) → Athens (ATH) at 07:50 GMT (Tue)
• BAW1439: Edinburgh (EDI) → London Heathrow (LHR) at 08:50 GMT (Tue)
• BAW1391: Belfast City (BHD) → London Heathrow (LHR) at 08:55 GMT (Tue)
• BAW825: Dublin (DUB) → London Heathrow (LHR) at 09:00 GMT (Tue)
• BAW1359: Manchester (MAN) → London Heathrow (LHR) at 09:05 GMT (Tue)
• BAW1473: Glasgow (GLA) → London Heathrow (LHR) at 09:05 GMT (Tue)
• BAW301: Paris CDG (LFPG) → London Heathrow (LHR) at 10:20 CET (Tue)
• BAW709: Zurich (ZRH) → London Heathrow (LHR) at 10:20 CET (Tue)
• BAW755: Basel‑Mulhouse (EAP) → London Heathrow (LHR) at 11:10 CET (Tue)
• BAW475: Barcelona (BCN) → London Heathrow (LHR) at 11:30 CET (Tue)
• BAW1308: London Heathrow (LHR) → Aberdeen (ABZ) at 12:25 GMT (Tue)

Major Affected Airports:

• London Heathrow (LHR): British Airways’ major hub is experiencing substantial disruptions with many regional UK and European routes affected.
• Barcelona (BCN), Paris CDG (LFPG), Zurich (ZRH): Affected by cancellations, especially for passengers connecting through Heathrow.

Emerald Airlines: Cancellations, Northern Ireland and UK Domestic Network Affected

Emerald Airlines, which operates regional services primarily in Northern Ireland, has cancelled 20 flights:

Cancelled Emerald Airlines Flights:

• EAG3644: Belfast City (BHD) → Birmingham (BHX) at 15:35 GMT (Mon)
• EAG3645: Birmingham (BHX) → Belfast City (BHD) at 17:20 GMT (Mon)
• EAG3618: Belfast City (BHD) → Manchester (MAN) at 18:10 GMT (Mon)
• EAG3658: Belfast City (BHD) → Edinburgh (EDI) at 18:59 GMT (Mon)
• EAG3619: Manchester (MAN) → Belfast City (BHD) at 19:50 GMT (Mon)
• EAG3659: Edinburgh (EDI) → Belfast City (BHD) at 20:24 GMT (Mon)
• EAG3600: Belfast City (BHD) → Southampton (SOU) at 06:50 GMT (Tue)
• EAG3640: Belfast City (BHD) → Birmingham (BHX) at 07:00 GMT (Tue)
• EAG3670: Belfast City (BHD) → Leeds Bradford (LBA) at 07:00 GMT (Tue)
• EAG3650: Belfast City (BHD) → Edinburgh (EDI) at 07:04 GMT (Tue)
• EAG3610: Belfast City (BHD) → Manchester (MAN) at 07:10 GMT (Tue)
• EAG3651: Edinburgh (EDI) → Belfast City (BHD) at 08:29 GMT (Tue)
• EAG3671: Leeds Bradford (LBA) → Belfast City (BHD) at 08:40 GMT (Tue)
• EAG3641: Birmingham (BHX) → Belfast City (BHD) at 08:45 GMT (Tue)
• EAG3611: Manchester (MAN) → Belfast City (BHD) at 08:50 GMT (Tue)
• EAG3601: Southampton (SOU) → Belfast City (BHD) at 09:05 GMT (Tue)
• EAG3620: Belfast City (BHD) → Cardiff (CWL) at 10:20 GMT (Tue)
• EAG3621: Cardiff (CWL) → Belfast City (BHD) at 12:10 GMT (Tue)
• EAG3646: Belfast City (BHD) → Birmingham (BHX) at 14:35 GMT (Tue)
• EAG3676: Belfast City (BHD) → Leeds Bradford (LBA) at 14:50 GMT (Tue)

Major Affected Airports:

• Belfast City (BHD): Major disruption for domestic UK routes, especially flights to Birmingham (BHX), Edinburgh (EDI), and Manchester (MAN).
• Regional UK airports: Birmingham (BHX), Leeds Bradford (LBA), and Southampton (SOU) are seeing major disruptions from these cancellations.

Pegasus Airlines: Flights Cancelled, Key Turkish and European Routes Affected

Pegasus Airlines has cancelled 12 flights, impacting both domestic Turkish routes and some European destinations.

Cancelled Pegasus Airlines Flights:

• PGT2704: Istanbul SAW → Konya at 19:00 +03 (Mon)
• PGT2705: Konya → Istanbul SAW at 20:45 +03 (Mon)
• PGT2070: Istanbul SAW → Gazipaşa at 22:00 +03 (Mon)
• PGT551: Zvartnots → Istanbul SAW at 05:25 +04 (Tue)
• PGT2730: Istanbul SAW → Kayseri at 05:50 +03 (Tue)
• PGT2731: Kayseri → Istanbul SAW at 07:55 +03 (Tue)
• PGT1196: Istanbul SAW → Bristol at 09:40 +03 (Tue)
• PGT955: Istanbul SAW → Geneva at 09:55 +03 (Tue)
• PGT956: Geneva → Istanbul SAW at 12:10 CET (Tue)
• PGT1197: Bristol → Istanbul SAW at 12:15 GMT (Tue)
• PGT2034: Istanbul SAW → Antalya at 17:10 +03 (Tue)
• PGT2035: Antalya → Istanbul SAW at 19:00 +03 (Tue)

Major Affected Airports:

• Istanbul SAW (SAW): Pegasus’ primary base is severely impacted, affecting both domestic Turkish routes and European connections.
• Bristol (BRS), Geneva (GVA), Antalya (AYT): International passengers traveling between Europe and Turkey are feeling the brunt of these cancellations.

Air France: Flights Cancelled, Paris CDG and European Networks Disrupted

Air France has announced flight cancellations, mainly affecting key routes from its Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) hub.

Cancelled Air France Flights:

• AFR1116: Paris CDG → Dublin at 15:05 CET (Mon)
• AFR1117: Dublin → Paris CDG at 16:55 GMT (Mon)
• AFR1694: Paris CDG → Budapest at 19:35 CET (Mon)
• AFR1358: Paris CDG → Sale at 21:10 CET (Mon)
• AFR972: Paris CDG → Dr. Antonio Agostinho Neto Int’l at 22:10 CET (Mon)

Major Affected Airports:

• Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG): Key international hub affected by these cancellations, especially on short- and medium-haul flights to destinations in Europe.
• Dublin (DUB), Budapest (BUD), Sale: These airports are facing disruptions from Air France cancellations, affecting passengers traveling within Europe and to/from African destinations.

Cause of Cancellations: What’s Causing All These Disruptions?

The flight cancellations across these six airlines can be attributed to a variety of factors that have compounded to create chaos for travelers.

• Adverse Weather Conditions: Fog, snow, and storms have disrupted flight schedules, especially during winter months. These weather conditions often lead to reduced visibility or unsafe conditions for takeoff and landing, forcing cancellations. Major airports like Heathrow and Schiphol have been impacted by poor weather conditions that hinder airport operations.
• Staffing Shortages: Airlines are struggling with staffing shortages, primarily due to the seasonal surge in travel demand. Staff absenteeism, combined with scheduling issues, has made it difficult for airlines to maintain their regular flight operations.
• Air Traffic Control Delays: Air traffic control delays are another factor contributing to cancellations. Heavy air traffic in key European hubs, combined with severe weather conditions, has led to airspace congestion, further causing delays and flight cancellations.
• Technical Issues: Some airlines have experienced technical problems with aircraft, which have forced them to ground flights for maintenance checks. These issues, although often minor, require immediate attention, leading to cancellations.
• Operational Constraints: The sheer volume of flights during the holiday season, combined with tight turnaround times and limited airport capacity, has resulted in operational delays that cascade into further cancellations.

Impact on Travel and Passengers: What’s at Stake?

The ripple effects of these flight cancellations have created significant challenges for passengers.

• Stranded Passengers: Thousands of travelers have found themselves stranded at major airports such as London Heathrow, Amsterdam Schiphol, and Paris CDG. For some, this means long delays while they await rebooking, and for others, it means they’ve missed important connections or events, including holidays and business meetings.
• Financial Strain: Many passengers who were impacted by cancellations are now bearing additional costs for hotel stays, food, and transport to alternative airports. With rebooking options limited and flights sold out quickly, passengers may have to incur further expenses to reach their destinations.
• Stress and Anxiety: The lack of timely communication and assistance from airlines has left many travelers feeling frustrated and anxious. The uncertainty surrounding alternate flight options, as well as unclear compensation policies, has made the travel experience increasingly stressful for many.
• Ripple Effect on the Holiday Travel Season: With the holiday season in full swing, these cancellations could have a long-term impact on travel, not just for the immediate passengers affected but for others traveling in the coming days. These disruptions are expected to continue to cause a backlog of flight delays and cancellations well into the winter season.

Advice for Passengers: What to Do if Your Flight is Cancelled

While cancellations can be frustrating, passengers can take steps to mitigate the impact and navigate the situation more effectively:

• Check Your Flight Status: Always check your flight status regularly, especially if you suspect a cancellation might occur. Use airline apps, websites, or airport displays to stay informed.
• Rebooking: If your flight is cancelled, contact the airline immediately through their app, website, or customer service desk. Airlines are usually required to offer you alternative routes or the option to get a full refund.
• Know Your Rights: EU Regulation gives passengers the right to compensation if their flight is cancelled or delayed for more than three hours. Ensure that you know your rights and what you’re entitled to — whether it’s a refund, meals, accommodation, or compensation.
• Travel Insurance: If you have travel insurance, check whether it covers flight cancellations and any additional expenses incurred due to the delay. Some policies will cover hotel stays, meals, and transportation.
• Consider Alternative Routes: If rebooking on your original airline proves difficult, consider flying with another carrier or departing from a nearby airport. Use apps or booking websites to explore alternate flights that may be available.

Conclusion: A Challenging Holiday Travel Season Ahead

The wave of flight cancellations across EasyJet, Vueling, British Airways, Emerald Airlines, Pegasus, and Air France highlights the growing challenges faced by the aviation industry. Passengers are advised to stay informed, proactive, and flexible to minimize the impact of these disruptions on their travel plans. While these cancellations are a temporary inconvenience, they also serve as a reminder of how vulnerable air travel.

Source: Different airports and FlightAware