UK Faces New Travel Turmoil as British, Ryanair, Air France, Lufthansa, Jet2, and More Airlines Face 28 Cancellations and 606 Delays at London, Manchester, Tokyo, Munich, Paris and Others

Published on December 16, 2025

UK Faces New Travel Turmoil Today as British, Ryanair, Air France, Lufthansa, Jet2, and more airlines face 28 cancellations and 606 delays Manchester Airport, London Heathrow, and London Gatwick. Disruption was led by easyJet with 148 delays and 17 cancellations, followed by British Airways with 110 delays and 3 cancellations, while Ryanair and Jet2 contributed significant delay volumes without cancellations. Manchester (288 delays, 12 cancellations) remained the most affected airport, ahead of Heathrow (190 delays, 10 cancellations) and Gatwick (128 delays, 6 cancellations), reflecting widespread pressure across the UK’s busiest travel hubs.

• Update today: easyJet recorded the highest disruption with 148 delays and 17 cancellations across Manchester and Gatwick.
• British Airways followed with 110 delays and 3 cancellations, driven largely by operations at London Heathrow.
• Ryanair logged 61 delays across Manchester and Gatwick, with no cancellations reported.
• Air France recorded 12 delays across Manchester and London Heathrow, reflecting sustained disruption on key European routes.
• Lufthansa reported 9 delays at London Heathrow, contributing to congestion on major international connections.
• Manchester Airport led all UK hubs with 288 delays and 12 cancellations, making it the most disrupted airport today.
• London Heathrow and London Gatwick together accounted for 318 delays and 16 cancellations, spreading impact across both long-haul and short-haul routes.

Most Affected UK Airports by Cancellations and Delays

Manchester Airport (MAN)

Manchester recorded 288 delays and 12 cancellations, the highest disruption nationwide. easyJet and Ryanair were the main contributors to delays, while easyJet alone accounted for most cancellations, impacting both domestic and European services.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

Heathrow saw 190 delays and 10 cancellations, with British Airways responsible for the largest share of delays. Long-haul and international connections amplified the knock-on effects across Europe, Asia, and North America.

London Gatwick Airport (LGW)

Gatwick reported 128 delays and 6 cancellations, all cancellations linked to easyJet. The disruption pattern remained short-haul heavy, affecting European leisure and regional routes.

Belfast International Airport (BFS)

Belfast International appeared among affected routes from both Manchester and Gatwick, with combined delays and isolated cancellations, reflecting spillover disruption from mainland UK hubs.

London Heathrow-linked Connections

Routes connected to London Heathrow, including Paris, Tokyo, and Munich experienced additional delays as congestion at the hub rippled through the network.

Airlines Most Affected by UK Flight Cancellations and Delays

easyJet

The most affected airline overall, with 148 delays and 17 cancellations, primarily across Manchester and Gatwick, making it the leading disruption driver in the UK today.

British Airways

Recorded 110 delays and 3 cancellations, with the majority concentrated at London Heathrow, reinforcing its role as the primary contributor to Heathrow congestion.

Ryanair

Logged 61 delays across Manchester and Gatwick, with no cancellations, indicating operational strain without schedule reductions.

Jet2

Reported 29 delays at Manchester Airport, remaining delay-heavy but cancellation-free.

Virgin Atlantic

Added 17 delays at London Heathrow, contributing to long-haul schedule pressure without cancellations.

How travellers were impacted at major airports

• Longer-than-expected waiting times during peak departure and arrival periods
• Increased gate changes and rolling departure updates
• Higher likelihood of missed onward connections at hub airports
• Congestion at customer service desks during re-accommodation windows
• Extended aircraft ground times affecting turnaround schedules

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Overview of UK Flight Cancellations

UK flight cancellations today were limited in volume but concentrated, with easyJet and British Airways accounting for the majority. Manchester Airport, London Heathrow, and London Gatwick repeatedly emerged as the most affected locations, reflecting pressure at the country’s largest gateways. While cancellations remained relatively contained at 28 total, persistent delays at Manchester, Heathrow, and Gatwick created cumulative disruption across connected routes. The recurring presence of easyJet, British Airways, and Ryanair in disruption data highlights how operational strain at key UK airports continues to shape the wider travel landscape today.

Image Source: AI

Source: Different airports and FlightAware