Tourists Stranded Across Europe as Lufthansa and KLM Cancel Dozens of Flights, Disrupting Travel in Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Greece, UK, and More

Published on August 1, 2025

Tourists are stranded across Europe as Lufthansa and KLM cancel dozens of flights and delay hundreds more, disrupting travel in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Greece, the UK, and other European countries. These are widespread disruptions mostly due to delays in air traffic control handling, congestion at key airports like Frankfurt and Amsterdam Schiphol, and logistic restraints for flight schedules. Both airliners are trying to help reschedule flights and compensate the thousands left stranded, but continued problems could delay recovery for days.

Tourists across Europe are facing major disruptions as Lufthansa and KLM cancel dozens of flights and delay hundreds more, affecting travel in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Greece, the UK, and beyond. Lufthansa has cancelled 16 flights and delayed 115, while KLM has grounded 14 flights and delayed 113. The disruptions are due to operational challenges, including congestion, air traffic delays, and logistical issues at major hubs like Frankfurt and Amsterdam Schiphol. Thousands of passengers have been stranded, with many facing long waits for rebooked flights. Both airlines are offering compensation, but the high volume of affected travelers has caused slow processing. International flights have also been delayed, and both airlines have warned that further disruptions may occur, with full recovery expected to take several days.

Lufthansa’s Widespread Cancellations and Delays

Lufthansa, Germany’s flagship carrier, has been particularly hard-hit by the ongoing disruptions. The airline has cancelled 16 flights and delayed 115 others, primarily on routes departing from its busiest hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. Notably, flights such as DLH124 from Frankfurt to Munich and DLH1242 from Frankfurt to Vienna have been grounded, creating significant delays for passengers traveling both within Germany and to other European destinations. These cancellations have led to a large number of stranded travelers, particularly those who were unable to find alternative connections or were forced to wait for hours, if not overnight, before being rebooked.

Passengers affected by these cancellations have expressed frustration as they’ve faced difficulty reaching customer support to resolve their issues. While Lufthansa has been actively working to rebook passengers on alternative flights, the high volume of cancellations has created an overwhelming backlog, delaying the process even further. Travelers whose flights have been cancelled or significantly delayed are entitled to compensation, including meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and the option for a full refund or rebooking. However, the sheer scale of the disruption has caused delays in processing these claims, leaving many passengers dissatisfied with the response.

KLM’s Struggles Amid Amsterdam Schiphol Congestion

Similarly, KLM, the Dutch flag carrier, has also been struggling with widespread cancellations and delays. The airline has grounded 14 flights and delayed another 113, primarily at its main hub in Amsterdam Schiphol, one of Europe’s busiest international airports. KLM’s cancellations have primarily affected flights to and from major cities like Barcelona, Florence, and Dublin, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at their departure airports. The congestion at Schiphol, coupled with the backlog caused by ongoing delays, has made it even more difficult for passengers to secure alternative flights.

Despite the airline’s efforts to accommodate affected travelers, many passengers have reported issues with rebooking and have faced long waits for customer support. KLM has offered compensation to those affected, including rebooking on the next available flight and providing hotel accommodations for those stranded overnight. However, with so many passengers impacted by the delays and cancellations, the compensation process has been slower than expected, and many travelers have found themselves waiting for extended periods of time without a clear resolution.

Widespread Disruptions at Major European Airports

The impact of the flight cancellations has been felt across multiple major European airports, extending beyond Germany and the Netherlands. In Spain, both Barcelona El Prat and Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez airports have seen extensive delays, with travelers scrambling to find alternative flights after missing connections. At Vienna International Airport in Austria, similar challenges have arisen, with passengers facing delays due to a high volume of rescheduled flights and airport congestion. In Greece, Athens International Airport has become a major bottleneck, with numerous flights delayed and cancelled, leaving passengers in a state of confusion and frustration.

In the UK, London Heathrow and Gatwick airports have been similarly impacted, with travelers flying from the UK to continental Europe experiencing significant delays and cancellations. As both Lufthansa and KLM have large operations in these airports, the resulting disruption has added to the already tense atmosphere, causing further chaos in an already congested travel environment. Passengers traveling from the UK to Europe have had to contend with long queues, missed connections, and confusion regarding flight statuses.

The knock-on effect of these delays is especially problematic for travelers with tight connections, as missed connections can lead to additional hours or even an entire day added to the journey. With a limited number of alternative flights available, some travelers are facing multi-day delays, which is exacerbating the overall travel chaos. Despite efforts from Lufthansa and KLM to rebook passengers and minimize the impact of the delays, the sheer volume of affected travelers has made the process much slower than expected.

The process has been further complicated by the volume of affected travelers, with long waiting times for customer support and slow responses to compensation requests. Both airlines have apologized for the inconvenience and assured passengers that they are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. However, given the scale of the disruption and the ongoing challenges at major airports, the process of rebooking and compensation has been far slower than anticipated, leaving many travelers frustrated.

The recent wave of cancellations and delays from Lufthansa and KLM has created significant travel chaos across Europe, with passengers stranded in airports throughout Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Greece, the UK, and beyond. While both airlines have been making efforts to rebook flights and offer compensation, the sheer scale of the disruption has caused widespread frustration. International flights have also been impacted, and many travelers face extended delays, missed connections, and confusion regarding flight status updates.

Tourists are stranded across Europe as Lufthansa and KLM cancel dozens of flights, disrupting travel in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Greece, the UK, and more, due to operational challenges like air traffic delays and congestion at major airports. The widespread disruptions are expected to continue, leaving thousands of passengers facing long delays and rescheduling.

As Lufthansa and KLM continue to work through the backlog of cancellations and delays, it is expected that normal operations will take several days to resume. In the meantime, passengers are advised to remain flexible, keep checking flight statuses, and take advantage of the rebooking and compensation options provided by the airlines. While the situation may improve gradually, further disruptions remain possible, and it will likely take some time before full recovery is achieved.