Travel Turmoil Escalates as Europe Grapples with 45 Cancellations and 212 Delays from British Airways, Air France, Brussels, and other Airlines, Leaving Passengers Stuck Across London, Geneva, Venice, Madrid and Other Major Hubs

Published on December 1, 2025

Air travel across Europe and key global hubs has been severely disrupted as British Airways, Air France, Brussels Airlines, and Iberia cancel several flights, affecting thousands of passengers worldwide. The cancellations span short-haul European routes to long-haul intercontinental flights, straining airports like London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Madrid Barajas, and Frankfurt International. Travellers are left grappling with delays, missed connections, and scrambled rebookings. As the holiday season approaches, this disruption adds yet another layer of complexity to the already congested European skies.

British Airways – Major Cancellations Across Domestic and International Routes

British Airways has faced significant operational setbacks, particularly across its European and transatlantic networks. Below is a list of key flights affected by these cancellations.

Cancelled British Airways Flights

• BAW253 – Nassau (NAS) → Providenciales (PLS)
• BAW252 – Providenciales (PLS) → Nassau (NAS)
• BAW60 – Male (MLE) → London Heathrow (LHR)
• BAW1478 – London Heathrow (LHR) → Glasgow (GLA)
• BAW1364 – London Heathrow (LHR) → Manchester (MAN)
• BAW810 – London Heathrow (LHR) → Copenhagen (CPH)
• BAW1446 – London Heathrow (LHR) → Edinburgh (EDI)
• BAW830 – London Heathrow (LHR) → Dublin (DUB)
• BAW1479 – Glasgow (GLA) → London Heathrow (LHR)
• BAW390 – London Heathrow (LHR) → Brussels (BRU)
• BAW1365 – Manchester (MAN) → London Heathrow (LHR)
• BAW1308 – London Heathrow (LHR) → Aberdeen (ABZ)
• BAW934 – London Heathrow (LHR) → Dusseldorf (DUS)
• BAW736 – London Heathrow (LHR) → Geneva (GVA)
• BAW831 – Dublin (DUB) → London Heathrow (LHR)
• BAW1447 – Edinburgh (EDI) → London Heathrow (LHR)
• BAW584 – London Heathrow (LHR) → Milan Linate (LIN)
• BAW811 – Copenhagen (CPH) → London Heathrow (LHR)
• BAW464 – London Heathrow (LHR) → Madrid (MAD)
• BAW984 – London Heathrow (LHR) → Berlin (BER)

Air France – European and Global Networks Hit Hard

Air France experienced widespread cancellations across its European and long-haul routes, particularly affecting Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and regional French airports.

Cancelled Air France Flights

• AFR1043 – Geneva (GVA) → Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
• AFR7466 – Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) → Montpellier (MPL)
• AFR598 – Conakry (CKY) → Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
• AFR1426 – Lyon (LYS) → Amsterdam (AMS)
• AFR1204 – Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) → Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
• AFR7400 – Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) → Toulouse (TLS)
• AFR7300 – Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) → Nice (NCE)
• AFR1126 – Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) → Venice (VCE)
• AFR6002 – Paris Orly (ORY) → Marseille (MRS)
• AFR1680 – Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) → London Heathrow (LHR)
• AFR6003 – Marseille (MRS) → Paris Orly (ORY)
• AFR7401 – Toulouse (TLS) → Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
• AFR7301 – Nice (NCE) → Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
• AFR1127 – Venice (VCE) → Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
• AFR1205 – Rome Fiumicino (FCO) → Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
• AFR1681 – London Heathrow (LHR) → Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
• AFR600 – Guadeloupe (PTP) → Martinique (FDF)
• AFR1596 – Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) → Casablanca (CMN)
• AFR1740 – Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) → Amsterdam (AMS)
• AFR600 – Martinique (FDF) → Cayenne (CAY)

Brussels Airlines – European Short-Haul Flights Canceled

Belgium’s carrier experienced point-to-point cancellations that disrupted both Belgian inbound and outbound movement.

Cancelled Brussels Airlines Flights

• BEL2613 – Brussels (BRU) → Frankfurt (FRA)
• BEL2614 – Frankfurt (FRA) → Brussels (BRU)

Iberia – Transatlantic and South American Routes Disrupted

Iberia, Spain’s national airline, faced significant cancellations on long-haul routes to North and South America, especially affecting flights from Madrid Barajas (MAD).

Cancelled Iberia Flights

• IBE340 – Orlando (MCO) → Madrid (MAD)
• IBE117 – Madrid (MAD) → Santiago (SCL)
• IBE346 – Boston (BOS) → Madrid (MAD)
• IBE191 – Madrid (MAD) → Caracas (CCS)
• IBE118 – Santiago (SCL) → Madrid (MAD)
• IBE192 – Caracas (CCS) → Madrid (MAD)

Airport Analysis: Major Hubs Strained by Widespread Disruptions

The cancellation wave affected some of Europe’s largest and busiest airports, creating significant operational stress and causing long delays for thousands of passengers.

London Heathrow (LHR)

Heathrow, Britain’s primary international gateway, saw the most widespread impact due to its significant role in British Airways’ network. As a major global hub, Heathrow’s Terminal 5 was particularly congested, leading to bottlenecks for connecting passengers. With numerous cancelled flights across British Airways’ domestic and international routes, passengers experienced long wait times for rebookings and crowded terminals.

Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)

Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), the largest in France and one of Europe’s busiest, faced severe delays due to the grounding of several Air France flights. Terminals were packed with frustrated passengers, particularly in Terminal 2E, known for handling long-haul and high-capacity flights. These disruptions were felt not only by Air France passengers but also by those with connecting flights to other global destinations.

Madrid Barajas (MAD)

Madrid’s main international airport, Barajas, struggled with long-haul and regional cancellations, particularly on Iberia’s South American routes. Terminal 4 at Madrid Barajas, which serves Iberia’s long-haul flights, was especially chaotic.

Frankfurt International (FRA)

Though less affected than Heathrow and CDG, Frankfurt International Airport, a key hub for Lufthansa and European air traffic, saw disruptions to its inbound and outbound connections. Passengers were redirected through alternate routes, and the airport’s Terminal 1 became a focal point for flight changes. The network was stretched as affected passengers scrambled to rebook their flights.

General Causes of Cancellations

The widespread cancellations across these major airlines can be attributed to several operational and external factors:

• Airline Scheduling Challenges: Particularly in regions with high-density traffic like London, Paris, and Madrid.
• Seasonal Weather Conditions: Storm systems and lower-than-expected visibility delayed aircraft movements across Europe.
• Operational Stress: Airlines and airports are handling a surge in passenger numbers during the holiday season, resulting in capacity issues.
• Labor Shortages and Crew Availability: Crew members being unavailable due to ongoing adjustments in schedules and flight rotations.

Impact on Travel and Passengers

The ripple effect of these cancellations is causing delays and missed connections, particularly at major airports like London Heathrow, Paris CDG, and Madrid Barajas. Passengers are facing:

• Lengthened wait times for rebooking, especially at impacted terminals.
• Disrupted onward connections, especially for intercontinental and European transfers.
• Frustrated passengers dealing with overcrowded terminals and customer service lines.
• Increased pressure on alternative flight options and road transportation as the backlog of passengers accumulates.

Advice for Affected Passengers

Travellers affected by these cancellations are encouraged to:

• Check updates on airline websites and apps to confirm new flight times.
• Use online rebooking tools for immediate changes rather than waiting in long queues.
• Consider alternate airports or routes if possible to avoid further delays.
• Contact the airline for information on compensation and rebooking policies.
• Ensure travel insurance is in place for coverage on cancellations and delays.

Conclusion: A Call for Patience During Disruption

As the European travel market recovers from this wave of cancellations, passengers must remain proactive in managing their travel plans. With airlines and airports working hard to adjust, travellers can expect improvements in service levels in the coming days. Staying informed and flexible will be key to navigating the ongoing disruptions. As we head into the busy holiday season, maintaining patience and clear communication with airlines will help mitigate some of the inconvenience caused by these cancellations.

Source: Different airports and FlightAware