Europe: 2,219 delays and 39 cancellations on 5 Feb; Ryanair and Aer Lingus among affected

Europe experienced widespread disruption on 5 February, with 2,219 flight delays and 39 cancellations attributed to harsh winter weather and air traffic control staffing shortages. Ryanair and Aer Lingus were among the carriers affected, with knock-on impacts from hubs including Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, and Frankfurt. Average departure delays for flights in transit exceeded 50 minutes, and Ryanair warned cascading delays could continue for up to 48 hours. Weather was expected to normalize by the weekend, though further structural issues could cause repeat events.

Europe faced significant flight disruption on 5 February, with 2,219 delays and 39 cancellations reported. The disruption was driven by a combination of harsh winter weather and staffing shortages within air traffic control networks.

Ryanair and Aer Lingus were among the most impacted airlines, with delays spreading through their operations from key continental hubs including Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, and Frankfurt. While only a limited number of flights to and from Dublin were cancelled, schedule reliability deteriorated, and average departure delays for flights in transit exceeded 50 minutes.

Business travellers were notably affected, including those heading to Frankfurt for financial roadshows and Amsterdam for technology conferences, with many forced to rebook to next-day services. The tight aircraft rotation model used by some carriers, including Ryanair’s 25-minute turnarounds, heightened the risk of ongoing knock-on delays. Ryanair warned that the cascading effects could persist for up to 48 hours due to the interdependence of crew duty limits and aircraft positioning.

To support passengers facing urgent itinerary changes, VisaHQ highlighted the importance of up-to-date travel documentation and promoted its Ireland portal for rapid visa checks, digital applications, and courier options for transit or short-stay visas. Ryanair advised customers to use its app for real-time rebooking and free date changes, while corporate travel managers were encouraged to activate duty-of-care tracking and virtual meeting contingencies.

The disruption extended to cargo flows, particularly for Irish exporters moving time-sensitive pharmaceuticals and technology components. With belly-hold capacity constrained, some freight was rerouted via overnight trucking to Brussels for onward air transport.

Met Éireann indicated that weather conditions were expected to normalize by the weekend. However, analysts cautioned that without structural improvements, similar multi-factor disruptions could recur. Travellers with near-term itineraries should monitor airline communications closely and make use of provided rebooking tools.