Last updated: November 19, 2025
Have you experienced a flight delay or cancellation this summer? Then you are not alone. We will deep dive into the worst destinations for these travel disruptions for British passengers this summer, according to our own data and official sites.
This ranking is based upon internal SkyRefund data and claims we have received this summer, combined with research and data released by Eurostat and the Office for National Statistics. The analysis focuses on the worst spots for flight reliability for British passengers during summer 2025, and where you may potentially want to keep your travel plans flexible next year.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Summer 2025 was a busy period for Brits. The number of flights reached pre-pandemic levels, and NATS was responsible for one-third of all flights in Europe. Unfortunately, this also led to a significant amount of flight delays and cancellations. Below, is a list of the top 10 destinations where British travellers experienced the most flight disruptions in summer 2025 based on SkyRefund research.
Interestingly, these three destinations accounted for 70% of all problem flights experienced by British travellers this summer, while the remaining 30% were spread among various other international destinations.
It is important to remember that you may be entitled to submit your claim for compensation for cancelled or delayed flights, regardless of where they are flying from, as long as they are travelling with a European airline or landing in Europe.
In addition, knowing your rights as a passenger is imperative, as well as contacting the airline for a valid reason for flight disruption, which you will need to make any claims.
Spain is the highest-ranking country, accounting for a staggering 17.4% of all claims received this summer. The worst airports were Barcelona, Alicante and Malaga, which are some of Europe's busiest holiday hubs, with thousands of flights in and out daily.
While Barcelona is one of Europe's busiest holiday hubs, Alicante and Malaga are also favourite destinations for British sunseekers. These airports experienced frequent disruptions due to heavy air traffic, chaotic scheduling and weather issues.
It comes as no surprise that 9% of all claims received this summer were due to problematic flights within the UK, which makes it one of the worst destinations for disruptions this summer.
The worst airports included all London Airports, particularly London Heathrow and Luton, with operational challenges and sheer traffic volume, while Manchester and Leeds were not far behind. The NATS technical glitch in July 2025 was a major contributor to summer delays.
As a popular destination for Brits during the summer, Italy accounted for 6.5% of all problematic flights. Among the worst airports were Bergamo, the popular gateway for budget airlines, as well as the busy cities of Milan and Rome.
Soaring passenger numbers caused travel chaos as well as other operational challenges, which led to further delays and cancellations.
6.5% of all claims received this summer were from British sunseekers who experienced many flight issues in Türkiye. British passengers experienced the worst disruptions at Atatürk International Airport (Istanbul), while the popular gateway to holiday destinations like Marmaris, Dalaman proved to be problematic this summer with flight issues. Antalya, the sun-soaked hotspot, was not far behind in terms of problematic flights for British passengers.
5.2% of all claims received were due to flight disruptions in the USA, which proved that even long-haul flights are not immune to disruptions.
Staff shortages in air traffic control, as well as severe weather and operational malfunctions, led to JFK, Chicago, and Miami being the worst-affected airports for British passengers who faced problems.
This summer, France accounted for 5% of claims received by British passengers because of strikes, air traffic control (ATC) issues and staffing problems.
The worst airports for flight delays and cancellations within France were the key domestic and European hub, Paris Orly, France's busiest airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, as well as the gateway to the French Riviera, Nice Airport.
3.9% of claims received by British travellers this summer were related to the holiday destination Greece. As Crete's busiest airport, Herakleion was the worst Greek destination for British passengers this summer, closely followed by Thessaloniki and Athens due to air traffic struggles and operational issues.
The popular summer holiday spot, Portugal, accounted for 3.7% of problematic flights according to claims received this summer. While this is not as high as other European destinations, British passengers still faced major delays and cancellations, disrupting their travel plans because of ATC staffing, high traffic and operational challenges.
The worst Portuguese airports for Brits this summer were Faro, Porto and Lisbon, all of which are major gateways for city breaks or beach holidays.
3.6% of all claims stemmed from problematic flights within the Netherlands, according to claims made by British passengers.
The Netherlands is a popular choice for a city break, which is why Amsterdam was the worst-affected airport, followed by the small but mighty Eindhoven airport.
Last on the list is Cyprus, which accounted for just 2.8% of the problematic flights. While this is the lowest on the list, a drastic comparison to Spain, which is the highest on the list at 17.4%, this was one of the worst destinations for flight delays this summer.
Larnaca, which is the island's busiest airport, proved to be one of the worst European destinations for flight problems according to British passengers due to ATC capacity and shortages.
This analysis was conducted using SkyRefund's internal data, determined by the claims made by British travellers this summer. The data includes both flight delays this summer and European summer flight cancellations, although delays were notably more common.
In addition to our data, we have utilised data provided by official sources, including Eurostat and the UK Office for National Statistics, and NATS to ensure a reliable and comprehensive view of where British travellers faced the most difficulty.
Trying to find out if your flight is eligible for compensation can seem daunting, but at SkyRefund, we use our skills and expertise to make it hassle-free. With over eight years of legal experience and a global legal network, we take pride in helping you claim your flight compensation. Our dedicated team have helped over 1 million passengers, secured the compensation they deserve, and achieved an impressive 98% success rate in eligible cases.
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