Heathrow and Gatwick delays affect 1,600 flights across Europe

Disruption overview

More than 1,600 flights were delayed across Europe during a single 24-hour period in early April 2026, with London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) seeing the worst of the disruption. Average delays reached 45 to 60 minutes at Heathrow and 55 to 75 minutes at Gatwick, while the wider backlog affected an estimated 240,000 passengers across more than 12 hubs and is expected to continue through at least 15 April. Travelers are being advised to check live flight status and allow at least a 2-hour connection buffer. Because the main causes were bad weather and air traffic control pressure outside the airline's control, compensation under EC 261 is likely to be limited, but airlines should still provide care, assistance, and rebooking where needed.

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Disruption details

More than 1,600 flights were delayed across Europe during a single 24-hour period in the first week of April 2026, with London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) taking the heaviest impact. For passengers, that meant missed connections, longer waits, and travel plans that were still being disrupted on 10 April.

The scale of the backlog has been especially clear in London:

• London Heathrow Airport averaged delays of 45 to 60 minutes.

• London Gatwick Airport averaged delays of 55 to 75 minutes.

• Across more than 12 affected hubs, over 240,000 passengers were caught up in the delays.

The disruption began with poor weather around the United Kingdom. Persistent rain, low cloud, and shifting winds meant air traffic authorities had to limit how many aircraft could use the runways. At the same time, long-standing staffing shortages in air traffic control left the network with almost no spare capacity to absorb delays once they started.

That is why the problem spread so quickly. Airlines running tightly packed short-haul schedules had little room to recover, so even a 30-minute delay on an early morning flight could roll into four or five later services on the same day. Longer routings around airspace restrictions in parts of the Middle East and Eastern Europe added more pressure to an already stretched system.

Knock-on delays were also reported at major hubs in Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and Greece, including Dublin, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Rome, Zurich, Vienna, and Athens. Busy intra-European routes from London to Amsterdam, Paris, and Frankfurt were especially hard to keep on time, and both network airlines and low-cost carriers struggled to protect their schedules.

The disruption is still active as of 10 April, and operational briefings expect elevated delays to continue through at least 15 April while staffing levels and runway use gradually normalize. Travelers are being advised to check live flight status before leaving for the airport and allow at least a 2-hour connection buffer. Gate congestion, crew duty limits, and occasional diversions to alternate airports are all adding to the pressure.

If your flight is delayed in this situation, compensation under EC 261 is likely to be limited because the main causes are bad weather and air traffic restrictions outside the airline's control. Even so, that doesn't mean you're without support. Your airline should still provide care and assistance during long delays, including meals and refreshments, and if needed, rebooking, a refund, and overnight accommodation.

If you'd like to understand what applies to your trip, AirHelp's free flight checker is a simple place to start.

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