- Flight Disruptions
- Schiphol, Paris CDG, and Helsinki hit by more than 1,500 flight delays as Italy strike nears
Schiphol, Paris CDG, and Helsinki hit by more than 1,500 flight delays as Italy strike nears
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Checked by Matteo Floris
Last updated on 29 May 2026
1,578
Affected flights
10
Affected airports
7
Affected airlines
Disruption overview
At least 1,578 flights were delayed or canceled across major European hubs on 28 May 2026, with the heaviest disruption centered on Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Helsinki Airport, Oslo Airport, and Milan Malpensa Airport. Pressure on airlines including KLM, SAS, Finnair, Lufthansa, and Iberia was already high, and the situation could worsen on 29 May as Italy prepares for a nationwide airport and ground-handling strike that may cancel more than 1,000 flights. If your trip is affected, what you're owed will depend on the cause of the disruption, so it's worth checking whether EC 261 compensation, rebooking, refunds, or care and assistance apply.
Passengers affected by this flight disruption may be eligible for compensation of up to €600 under passenger rights regulations. Eligibility depends on the circumstances of the disruption.
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Disruption details
Passengers flying through Europe's major hubs on 28 May 2026 saw widespread disruption, with at least 1,545 delayed flights and 33 cancellations centered on Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Helsinki Airport, Oslo Airport, and Milan Malpensa Airport.
For passengers, this meant longer waits, missed connections, and last-minute rebooking during the busiest morning and afternoon travel periods. Delays at the main hubs also spread to secondary airports across the region, making an already busy day harder to manage.
This kind of disruption can build quickly. Small early-morning delays often ripple through the rest of the day as airlines try to keep aircraft, crews, and passengers moving through tightly packed hub schedules with very little room to recover.
Among the airlines facing the most pressure were KLM, SAS, Finnair, Lufthansa, and Iberia. KLM's short-haul network from Amsterdam to Paris, Milan, and other European cities showed clusters of late departures, while SAS services between Scandinavia and continental Europe continued to face punctuality pressure.
In Helsinki, recovery work was still underway after a four-hour walkout by ground-handling staff on 27 May 2026 forced Finnair to cancel more than 100 flights. That disruption didn't end when the walkout did, and some of the instability carried into Thursday's schedule.
The pressure is expected to rise again on 29 May 2026, when airport and ground-handling unions across Italy are scheduled to hold a nationwide strike. More than 1,000 flights could be canceled in Italy alone, potentially affecting close to 200,000 passengers traveling through Rome Fiumicino Airport, Milan Malpensa Airport, Naples International Airport, Venice Marco Polo Airport, and other gateways.
Airlines including Lufthansa, Iberia, Ryanair, and easyJet are preparing to compress schedules around protected time windows when some flights must still operate. Even if your flight goes ahead, that can still mean crowded terminals, longer queues, and fewer simple options if you need to change your plans.
The disruption is also likely to complicate onward travel through the weekend, especially on routes linking Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, and Scandinavian capitals. If you're traveling through these hubs over the next few days, it's worth checking flight-status updates closely, allowing more time for connections, and considering rail or coach alternatives on shorter routes where that makes sense.
If your flight is affected, your rights will depend on what caused the disruption. When delays or cancellations come from something the airline controls, such as crew shortages or airline-specific strike action, EC 261 compensation may apply. When the problem is caused by airport or ground-handling strikes, compensation is usually less likely because it's outside the airline's control, but airlines should still provide care and assistance, including rerouting or refunds, food and drinks during long waits, and accommodation if you're delayed overnight.
Because this week's disruption involves several different causes, it's worth checking the exact reason given for your flight before you assume what you're entitled to. AirHelp's free flight checker can help you see whether compensation or other support may apply to your trip.
Know your rights
These are your air passenger rights
When your flight's disrupted, you have rights. Most passenger protection laws cover the following:
Compensation
Good passenger rights ensure passengers get fairly compensated for delays and cancellations. Try our compensation check and find out how much money we can get you.
Rerouting or refund
If your flight is canceled, your airline must provide an alternative. Some laws say you can choose a full refund instead.
Food and essential care
Providing food and drinks is a basic right under many regulations. Typically after a delay of a few hours.
Accommodation
Some passenger rights say the airline must provide accommodation when your journey is delayed overnight.
This advice is provided to help you if your flight is delayed or canceled. However, the exact care and compensation you are entitled to will depend on your specific circumstances and flight. Always follow the directions of your airline, particularly with regard to check-in and boarding times.
Quick facts
Summary
Disruption
Delays and Cancellations
Cause
Other strike
Status
Current disruption
Compensation
May qualify for compensation
Flights affected
1578
Airlines affected
KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Nordic Regional Airlines, Lufthansa, Iberia, Ryanair, Easyjet
Airports affected
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, Oslo Gardermoen Airport, Milano Malpensa Airport, Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Naples Airport, Marco Polo Airport, Frankfurt am Main Airport, Madrid-Barajas International Airport
Cities affected
Amsterdam, Paris, Helsinki, Oslo, Milan, Rome, Naples, Venice, Frankfurt, Madrid
Countries affected
Netherlands, France, Finland, Norway, Italy, Germany, Spain, Denmark
Start date
2026-05-28
Checked by
Matteo Floris
Date updated
29 May 2026
What to do if your flight is delayed, canceled, or overbooked
If you're traveling to, from, or within the European Union, here's what you should do when you experience a disruption.
Gather evidence that your flight was delayed, canceled, or overbooked.
Get the airline to provide written confirmation of the disruption and the reason behind it.
Request an alternative flight to your destination — or a refund if you no longer wish to travel.
Make a note of the arrival time at your final destination.
Ask the airline to provide vouchers for meals and refreshments.
Avoid signing documents or accepting offers that may waive your passenger rights.
If an overnight stay is required, ask the airline to provide accommodation.
Save receipts for any additional expenses caused by the disruption.
