SAS Cancels 5 Flights, Stranding Travelers and Impacting Copenhagen, Oslo, Gdansk, and More, Latest Update

Published on September 24, 2025

On September 23, 2025, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) grounded more than 15 of its flights, creating chaos in many European cities and leaving both business and vacation travelers scrambling. Trips to and from Copenhagen, Oslo, and Gdansk were hit the hardest, and the wave of cancellations rippled across connected routes, causing delays and confusion from takeoff to baggage arrival. Travelers spent hours in crowded terminals, many stranded or racing to rebook on rival carriers.

Airlines have been hit with over 58 flight delays and 5 cancellations today, causing major disruptions across multiple airports

Affected Cities and Airports:

The following airports were directly impacted by the cancellations:

• Copenhagen (CPH / EKCH): Several flights to major European destinations, including Oslo, Stockholm, and London, were canceled.
• Oslo, Gardermoen (OSL / ENGM): Canceled flights from Oslo to Copenhagen caused delays in regional connections.
• Gdansk Lech Walesa (GDN / EPGD): Canceled flights from Gdansk to Copenhagen affected travelers’ connections to Scandinavia.
• Brussels (BRU / EBBR): A flight from Brussels to Copenhagen was also among the disrupted services.
• Malpensa International (MXP / LIMC): Flights from Milan to Copenhagen were canceled, impacting cross-border travel.
• Trondheim, Vaernes (TRD / ENVA) and Bergen, Flesland (BGO / ENBR): Regional routes were also significantly disrupted, particularly affecting business travelers in Norway.

Table Overview of Flight cancellation and delays

The facts and figures provided are based on Flight Aware data.

Passengers Affected

The canceled flights hit several hundred travelers, stranding an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people in major European airports. Some had to rebook right away, leading to even longer waits. Business passengers took it the hardest; they had to push back meetings and corporate events in different cities. Tourists, who had planned everything from museum visits to dinners, found their dream itineraries up in the air.

Impact on Tourism

The cancellations had a ripple effect on tourism in the affected cities. In Copenhagen, Oslo, and Gdansk, where tourist flows are crucial to the local economy, travelers faced delays in reaching popular attractions and events. For instance, Copenhagen, known for its historic sites and vibrant cultural scene, saw a decrease in foot traffic to its landmarks. Similarly, Gdansk, a prominent Polish tourist destination, experienced fewer visitors to its historic Old Town and Baltic coast resorts. The cancellations disrupted not only outbound tourism but also inbound visitors, further straining the tourism industry.

Local businesses reliant on international tourism, including hotels, restaurants, and transport services, saw a decline in bookings and traffic, leading to potential financial losses. These disruptions come at a time when many destinations in Europe are recovering from the impacts of global travel restrictions, making it even harder for the tourism sector to regain its previous momentum.

Overview

The September 23, 2025, cancellations of SAS flights sent shockwaves through Europe’s biggest airports, stranding thousands and sharply curtailing incoming tourist waves. These cities, still mending from prior setbacks in their travel and hospitality sectors, are now contending with yet another drag on recovery. Although SAS is racing to rebook passengers and fulfill compensation obligations, the real hardship is still being felt at boarding gates and in nearby shops, cafés, and hotels. To safeguard future travelers and businesses, the aviation sector must bolster communication and refine backup protocols, transforming disruption from inevitable pain into manageable and brief inconvenience.