EasyJet cancels thousands of flights this summer due to congestion in Europe's skies. The airline denied that it was a return to the chaos seen last summer due to staff shortages. Thousands of holidaymakers could face disruption this summer after easyJet axed around 1,700 flights from July to September.

As of early 2026, EasyJet has faced localized flight cancellations primarily due to industrial action and air traffic control (ATC) restrictions across Europe. In July, which is the peak of the summer travel season, the airline often struggles with "knock-on" effects from national strikes—particularly in France and Italy—where ground handling staff or ATC workers walk out, forcing airlines to trim their schedules to meet safety requirements. Additionally, the European aviation sector is currently dealing with understaffing at major hubs and the rollout of new digital border checks for the Schengen Area, which has slowed down turnaround times. To prevent the massive systemic meltdowns seen in previous years, EasyJet has occasionally opted to proactively cancel a small percentage of flights weeks in advance to ensure the remaining schedule is more resilient. If your flight is affected, the airline is legally required under UK/EU 261 to provide a refund, a rebooking, or compensation if the cancellation was within their control and not caused by "extraordinary circumstances" like a strike.