Over 120 Flight Cancellations Hit Europe: Munich to Vienna

Over 120 flight cancellations and widespread delays hit European hubs on October 5, 2025. Disruptions stretched from Germany and Austria to the UK, Norway, and Italy. Ripple effects followed severe weather and recent airport security interruptions, impacting Munich, Oslo, Vienna, Manchester, Malpensa, and more.

The worst pressure point remained Amsterdam Schiphol after Storm Amy forced mass schedule cuts over the weekend. Munich also felt aftershocks from repeated drone sightings that paused operations on October 3–4. Airlines including Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, KLM, and British Airways dealt with knock-on delays through Sunday.

Airports and Airlines Most Affected Today — Over 120 Flight Cancellations

Schiphol led the disruption curve. The airport saw at least 150 cancellations on Saturday as Storm Amy crossed the Netherlands, with carriers warning of residual delays into Sunday, according to airport statements reported by Reuters and local outlets. That alone pushed Europe’s cancellation tally well past the 120 mark.

Germany experienced a second wave of headaches. Munich resumed flying on Saturday after overnight drone sightings twice halted movements; the restart left schedules tight and some services rolled into Sunday out of place. Frankfurt reported heavy delays as crews and aircraft repositioned.

Scandinavia struggled with flow constraints. Oslo Gardermoen logged cancellations and rolling delays on SAS and Norwegian rotations. Copenhagen faced similar bottlenecks as aircraft and crews cycled back into position.

Austria and Italy recorded pockets of cancellations and long delays. Vienna International saw queues build on Austrian and partner networks. Milan Malpensa reported delays on carrier feeders, while Florence had a lighter but noticeable schedule trim.

In the UK and France, Heathrow, Gatwick, and Paris Charles de Gaulle absorbed late-running wide-bodies and subbed aircraft. British Airways, KLM, Air France and partners cited weather recovery and air-traffic flow restrictions. Secondary hubs such as Manchester and Berlin Brandenburg also posted clusters of delayed departures.

Operational drivers were familiar. Weather recovery at Schiphol, drone-related stoppages in Munich, and chronic ATC capacity and staffing constraints across parts of the network combined to slow the system. Industry reporting and Eurocontrol trend data continue to show ATC capacity/staffing as a leading cause of en-route delay, with weather close behind.

From Storms to Staffing: How the Shockwaves Spread

When a hub pares back flights, aircraft and crews end the day in the wrong places. That creates morning gaps and afternoon bunching the next day. Europe’s tightly interconnected banked schedules then pass delays from one hub to another.

Security incidents add a second drag. Even brief closures force diversions and missed connections that take a day or more to unwind. Carriers also protect schedules by trimming frequencies or swapping smaller aircraft, which can strand standby passengers.

Travelers feel the pinch most on high-demand city pairs and evening banks. Sunday leisure returns and Monday business flows collide, raising the risk of rolling delays. Expect airlines to clear backlogs across Monday as crews reset and winds ease.

Bottom line: Over 120 flight cancellations hit Europe today, led by Schiphol’s storm fallout and Munich’s security hangover. If you fly in the next 24–48 hours, build buffer time and confirm your flight status before leaving for the airport.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: How many flights were canceled in Europe today?

More than 120 across multiple countries. Schiphol alone reported around 150 on Saturday, with spillover into Sunday.

Q2: Which airports were worst affected?

Amsterdam Schiphol led cancellations. Munich, Frankfurt, Oslo, Copenhagen, Vienna, Milan Malpensa, Heathrow, Gatwick, CDG, Manchester, and Berlin saw notable delays.

Q3: Why did cancellations spike?

Storm Amy drove weather cuts at Schiphol. Drone sightings halted Munich operations twice. ATC capacity and staffing limits amplified knock-on delays.

Q4: Can passengers claim compensation?

EU Regulation 261/2004 applies. Weather and air-traffic control issues may be “extraordinary,” limiting compensation, but care and rerouting still apply.

Q5: What should travelers do now?

Check airline apps for live rebooking. Consider alternate routings or rail on short-haul. Keep receipts for meals and hotels if eligible for reimbursement.