Flights Cancelled Swept Europe As London, Liverpool, And More Airports Cancel 783 And Delay 1,956 Flights, Disrupting Several Key Airlines

Written By: Ryan Rashid

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September 8, 2026 11:08 PM

Flight cancellations skyrocketed in Europe today, as 1,956 delays and 783 cancellations disrupted passengers across the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, and the Netherlands, with major hubs in London, Manchester, Dublin, Amsterdam and Paris among those affected the most.
The airlines hit the hardest include British Airways, KLM, easyJet, Ryanair, and BA CityFlyer. Travelers using airports including London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted, London City, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, Glasgow, Belfast, Birmingham, Liverpool John Lennon, and Dublin are being advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
The disruption comes as a technical issue affects air traffic control services provided by Nats. With aircraft movements restricted, passengers may face changes not only at UK airports but also on flights operating into the region from overseas.

The Main Takeaways for Travelers

• 1,956 delays have been recorded across key airports, passengers should allow additional time for changing departure schedules and connections.
• 783 cancellations are affecting travelers, making it important to confirm a flight is operating before leaving for the airport.
• London Heathrow is facing 348 delays and 199 cancellations, putting connecting and long-haul journeys under particular pressure.
• London Gatwick has 255 delays and 110 cancellations, creating a higher likelihood of changed departure plans for travelers.
• Amsterdam Schiphol is recording 236 delays and 78 cancellations, which may affect passengers connecting through the Netherlands.
• Dublin has 137 delays and 52 cancellations, leaving Ireland travelers with a greater need to check their latest flight information.
• The Nats technical issue is affecting aircraft movements, meaning passengers can experience disruption even when their own airline is not the original source of the problem.

European Airports Where Travelers Are Seeing the Most Changes

London Heathrow

Passengers using London Heathrow are encountering 348 delays and 199 cancellations, the highest cancellation total in Europe today. The scale of schedule changes could affect both departing travelers and passengers relying on Heathrow for connecting journeys. By origin, London Heathrow is seeing cancellations at 15% and delays at 27%, while by destination, cancellations stand at 13% and delays at 23%.

Travel and Tour World contacted the airport for comment on the flight disruptions:

Hi Rana,

Please find our line below.

For any further info you will need to speak to NATS.

Please could I ask that your coverage accurately reports that this is a NATS technical issue, impacting all UK airports – not just Heathrow.

Many thanks
Abbie

London Gatwick

At London Gatwick, 255 flights are delayed while 110 are cancelled. Travelers using the airport may need to keep checking departure information as schedules adjust through the day. The airport is facing a 14% cancellation rate and 31% delay rate for originating flights, compared with 13% cancellations and 32% delays for arriving flights.

Amsterdam Schiphol

Amsterdam Schiphol is recording 236 delays and 78 cancellations. Passengers connecting through the Netherlands could see knock-on changes to onward journeys if earlier flights arrive late. By origin, the airport has a 5% cancellation rate and 17% delay rate, while destination flights are showing 5% cancellations and 15% delays.

Charles de Gaulle/Roissy

Charles de Gaulle/Roissy has 201 delays and 34 cancellations. The airport is also recording 20 delays involving flights within, into, or out of the United States, adding another layer of uncertainty for some international travelers. Its origin figures show 2% cancellations and 18% delays, while destination flights are at 2% cancellations and 12% delays.

Manchester

Travelers at Manchester are facing 168 delays and 22 cancellations. The airport’s busy schedule means passengers should pay close attention to revised departure times and gate information. Origin flights are showing 3% cancellations and 27% delays, while destination flights are at 3% cancellations and 26% delays.

London Stansted

London Stansted has 117 delays and 23 cancellations. Passengers flying through the London airport may experience revised timings as aircraft rotations and air traffic restrictions affect operations. The airport is recording 4% cancellations and 19% delays by origin, compared with 3% cancellations and 18% delays by destination.

London Luton

At London Luton, 115 delays and 63 cancellations are affecting travelers. The cancellation figure means passengers should confirm their booking status before making their way to the airport. Origin flights are showing 16% cancellations and 26% delays, while destination flights are at 15% cancellations and 31% delays.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is recording 103 delays and 38 cancellations. Travelers departing Scotland may therefore need to allow for additional waiting time or changes to planned connections. By origin, cancellations stand at 8% and delays at 24%, while destination flights are reporting 9% cancellations and 26% delays.

Bristol

Passengers at Bristol are seeing 61 delays alongside 40 cancellations. The relatively high cancellation count means a confirmed booking should still be checked for the latest operating status. The airport’s originating flights show 16% cancellations and 24% delays, while destination flights record 15% cancellations and 33% delays.

Dublin

At Dublin, 137 flights are delayed and 52 are cancelled. Travelers using Ireland’s main international gateway could face changes to both departure and connecting schedules. Origin flights are showing 6% cancellations and 16% delays, while destination flights are at 4% cancellations and 17% delays.

Airlines Keeping Travelers Across Europe on Alert

easyJet

easyJet is facing the largest number of cancellations across Europe, with 220 cancellations and 498 delays. Passengers booked on the carrier should keep checking their flight status as schedule changes continue to work through airport operations.

British Airways

British Airways is facing 101 cancellations and 234 delays. Travelers using the airline, particularly through London airports, may need to allow extra flexibility around departure times and connections.

Ryanair

Ryanair is seeing 48 cancellations and 449 delays. The high number of delays means passengers should monitor updated timings closely, particularly where they have onward travel arranged.

KLM

KLM is facing 54 cancellations and 100 delays. Travelers using Amsterdam Schiphol as a departure or connection point should check for revised flight information before traveling to the airport.

BA CityFlyer

BA CityFlyer is recording 39 cancellations and 36 delays. Passengers booked on affected services should pay attention to any notification from the airline concerning schedule adjustments.

Practical Steps for Passengers Dealing With Cancellations

• Check the latest flight status directly with the airline before leaving for the airport.
• Keep booking references, identification and travel documents readily available.
• Follow airline instructions regarding rebooking, refunds or alternative services.
• Check onward connections separately if the first flight has been delayed or cancelled.
• Allow extra time at the airport where operational changes are being reported.
• Keep checking airline messages and airport departure screens for updated information.

The Air Traffic Control Issue Behind the Flight Disruptions

Flights from airports in the United Kingdom and Ireland are being heavily disrupted by a technical problem affecting Nats, the air traffic control provider.

Nats said shortly before 17:00 BST that its flight systems were beginning to recover. However, with only a limited number of aircraft able to depart, arrivals are also being restricted, affecting flights traveling to the region from overseas airports.

At London Heathrow, departures were initially paused around lunchtime. Traffic later resumed before facing further disruption during the afternoon, with very few flights understood to be taking off at the time described.

The restrictions can create a chain reaction across Europe, because aircraft, crews and passengers moving between airports depend on each part of the network operating close to schedule. Passengers have been advised to contact their airlines to confirm the status of their flights.

How Europe’s Cancellation Picture Is Developing

The cancellation figures show that the impact is being felt particularly strongly across major airports serving London, Ireland, France and the Netherlands.

London Heathrow remains the airport drawing the most concern, with 348 delays and 199 cancellations. London Gatwick follows with 255 delays and 110 cancellations, while Amsterdam Schiphol is recording 236 delays and 78 cancellations.

Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, London Luton has 63 cancellations, London City has 57, and Edinburgh has 38. Dublin in Ireland is seeing 52 cancellations, while Bristol has 40 and Glasgow has 22.

The airline figures add another dimension. easyJet is facing 220 cancellations, British Airways 101, KLM 54 and Ryanair 48. With Nats systems beginning to recover, passengers across Europe will be watching closely for further updates as airport and airline operations gradually adjust.

The data has been extensively curated by our editorial team using real-time aviation figures recorded on 8 September 2026 at 12:56 pm ET USA (4:56 pm GMT)

Primary Source: FlightAware.

Verification Protocol: All statistics have been independently reviewed and cross-checked by our human editorial desk. Timestamped records, data logs and feed snapshots are securely archived internally to support historical accuracy and editorial transparency.

Note: Real-time flight-tracking figures reflect active airspace and operational data. Minor variations may occur when compared with information displayed at individual airport terminals or airline departure gates.

Travelers are advised to check directly with their respective airlines and airports for the latest flight status, schedule changes and operational updates. 

Verified by Rana Pratap