Over 1,700 Flights Delayed and 63 Cancelled: What UK Travellers Need to Know Right Now

More than 1,700 flights have been delayed and 63 cancelled across Europe, as Ryanair, easyJet, and British Airways struggle to maintain schedules amid a deepening jet fuel crisis and rising operational pressures.

The European aviation network is under severe strain this week, with more than 1,700 flights delayed and at least 63 cancelled across the continent. British Airways, Ryanair, and easyJet are among the worst-affected carriers, leaving passengers stranded at terminals, missing connections, and facing last-minute itinerary changes at one of the busiest times of the travel year.

Ryanair has recorded 81 delays, easyJet 68, and British Airways 66 delays, alongside three outright cancellations. Other airlines operating across Europe, including Eurowings, Norwegian Air Sweden, Transavia, United Airlines, and Delta, have also reported considerable disruption across their respective networks.​​​​​​​

The primary cause of the disruption is a deepening jet fuel supply crisis, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions surrounding the US-Iran conflict and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world's most critical oil transit routes. The UK sources approximately 65% of its jet fuel from the Middle East, and with European prices more than doubling compared to pre-crisis levels, British carriers are facing record operating costs with little room to absorb the impact.

Adding to the pressure, the European Union's newly introduced Entry Exit System, which captures biometric data for non-EU travellers at border control, has created significant processing bottlenecks at major airports. Some flights have departed with empty seats after passengers were caught in hours-long queues — a costly problem for low-cost carriers that rely on fast aircraft turnarounds to keep fares competitive.

Air traffic management across busy European corridors is under strain too, with airspace rerouting linked to Middle East tensions pushing more traffic through already congested routes.​​​​​​​

All three major carriers have confirmed they are actively working to stabilise their operations. British Airways is consolidating affected services and has committed to notifying passengers of changes as early as possible. easyJet is reducing capacity on lower-demand routes while protecting core holiday destinations, and has publicly confirmed it will not apply fuel surcharges to existing bookings. Ryanair is concentrating capacity on its busiest routes, though the airline has acknowledged that further disruption remains a realistic possibility through May and June should fuel supply conditions fail to improve.

The UK government has also intervened, permitting airlines to cancel flights in advance without surrendering their take-off and landing slots — a measure designed to help carriers plan more effectively rather than respond to disruptions at the last minute.​​​​​​​

Passengers with upcoming bookings should keep their contact details current with both their airline and travel agent to receive timely updates. Crucially, do not cancel voluntarily — if your airline cancels or significantly alters your flight, UK aviation law entitles you to a full refund or alternative routing. Plan to arrive at the airport earlier than usual, as terminal congestion and extended border processing times are lengthening journeys across the board.​​​​​​​

We are actively monitoring developments and are on hand to assist any customer whose travel plans have been impacted. Contact our team for rebooking support or advice on your passenger rights.​​​​​​​