Severe Weather Causes Widespread Flight Chaos Across Europe

Severe weather has wreaked havoc on air travel across Europe, leading to the cancellation or delay of nearly 2,000 flights. Major hubs such as London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Paris were among the hardest hit as strong winds, heavy rain, and violent thunderstorms swept through the region. Airlines including Lufthansa, KLM, British Airways, Air France, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Ryanair, American Airlines, and Air India faced significant disruptions, with many forced to cancel routes or reroute operations due to unsafe flying conditions.

The extreme weather, which included crosswinds, lightning risks, and low visibility, brought some runways to a standstill and created a ripple effect across both short-haul and international networks. The scale of the disruption overwhelmed airport logistics, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and scrambling to rebook their travel plans.

Heathrow Faces Crosswinds and Delays

At London Heathrow, powerful crosswinds caused 212 delays and 9 cancellations by the afternoon. British Airways, the airport's primary carrier, saw over 100 flights delayed and 6 grounded. Other airlines, including Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways, also reported delays. Transatlantic carriers like United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta faced setbacks, with many passengers missing connecting flights due to the chaos.

Frankfurt Struggles Amidst Thunderstorms

Frankfurt International Airport, Germany's largest hub, recorded 347 delays and 9 cancellations. Lufthansa, headquartered in Frankfurt, experienced over 150 delayed flights, with disruptions spreading across its subsidiaries. Airlines such as Swiss, Qatar Airways, Etihad, and Singapore Airlines also faced significant delays, while smaller carriers like Smart Lynx and Air Astana saw complete disruptions to their schedules.

Berlin Brandenburg and Munich Hit Hard

Berlin Brandenburg Airport reported 105 delays and 6 cancellations as heavy thunderstorms made departures unpredictable. Lufthansa and easyJet faced prolonged delays, while international carriers like Air France, KLM, and Qatar Airways dealt with hour-long holdups. Munich Airport, however, bore the brunt of the storm, with 348 delays and 20 cancellations, making it the worst-affected airport in Europe for the day. Lufthansa and its subsidiaries experienced up to 40% of their flights delayed or canceled.

Amsterdam Schiphol Battles Strong Gusts

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport grappled with strong gusts, resulting in 247 delays and 27 cancellations. KLM, the airport's main carrier, recorded over 100 delays, primarily affecting its European short-haul services. Some inbound flights were diverted to nearby airports in Belgium and northern Germany. Air France, Delta, United, JetBlue, and Qatar Airways also experienced ripple effects, while regional airlines like BA CityFlyer and Croatia Airlines faced widespread disruptions.

The severe weather has highlighted the vulnerability of Europe's aviation system when extreme conditions strike multiple key regions simultaneously. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates and allow extra time for travel as the situation continues to evolve.