Major Disruptions Hit Heathrow, Schiphol & Charles de Gaulle — Over 300 Flights Affected
Global delays caused by major airports in Europe
On June 19, 2025, more than 300 flights were either cancelled or delayed across three of Europe’s busiest airports: London Heathrow (LHR), Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). This sweeping disruption impacted a range of global carriers and has significant ripple effects on international travel schedules
What happened?
A perfect storm of operational issues disrupted flights from early morning through late evening. Airlines cited a mix of:
- Staff shortages
- Gate assignment delays
- Ground handling problems
- Tight aircraft rotations
These internal challenges (rather than weather or industrial action) were enough to rip through tight and interwoven route networks
Heathrow (LHR): Short‑ and Long‑Haul Impacted
At Heathrow:
8 flights were cancelled, and 54 were delayed.
British Airways reported 10 delays.
Finnair faced 3 cancellations and 1 delay.
Air India experienced 2 cancellations and 7 delays (50% delay rate).
American Airlines had 6 delays, while both Emirates and United recorded 2 delays each.
Regional carriers like Brussels Airlines, Aegean, Eurowings, and Etihad also reported multiple delays
Schiphol (AMS): The Hardest Hit
At Amsterdam Schiphol, the impact was even more pronounced:
20 flights cancelled
A staggering 104 flights delayed
CDG (Paris): Air France Under Pressure
Paris Charles de Gaulle saw heavy disruption:
Air France alone experienced 8 cancellations and 58 delays, one of the day’s most substantial single-carrier impacts
Global Ripple Effects
With these hubs serving as major gateways to Asia, North America, and the Middle East, the disruptions spread far beyond Europe. Airlines including Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Oman Air, and Saudia reported knock-on delays on connecting flights. The knock-on effect can be extensive with long-haul rotations: even a minor delay in Europe could cascade all the way to destinations like Dubai, Dallas, or Delhi
Travel Advice & What Next?
For passengers:
Monitor flight status via the airline’s app or website.
Expect additional delays, factor in extra transfer time.
Contact airlines directly for rebooking, refunds, or compensation.
Airports and airlines are currently working to restore stability, but as this situation highlights, airline networks remain extremely interdependent, so disruptions in one hub can spread widely and rapidly.
Bottom Line
A single day of “operational turbulence” has shown how vulnerabilities in staffing, ground operations, and scheduling can ripple through global air travel. As Europe enters peak summer travel season, these airports, and the airlines relying on them, will need to shore up internal support systems to prevent further breakdowns.
Stay tuned to Airport Transportation for updates, and safe travels!
Sources: Information derived from Travel & Tour World’s June 19, 2025 coverage .
