Chaos as Brits travelling to holiday spot face ‘most cancellations’ | World | News
Brits travelling to a popular European holiday spot are among the most likely tourists to face flight cancellations this summer, reports suggest. The Balearic Islands have long been a favourite destination for UK holidaymakers, enticing millions of visitors each year with short flight times, warm weather and sandy beaches.
Analysis of flight data by AirAdvisor’s aviation intelligence platform found that flights between major London airports and the islands of Majorca and Ibiza are most likely to be cancelled over the summer months, however. The research compared routes where a minimum of 100 flights are scheduled between a UK airport and its European counterparts over June, July and August.
Topping the list was Ibiza, which saw six of the 105 flights from London Luton between June 1 and August 31, 2025, axed, putting the percentage at 5.56%, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reports.
Just behind it was the route from London Heathrow to Majorca’s capital city Palma, which saw 14 of 875 direct flights cancelled over the same period, a rate of 1.60%, while services from Gatwick and Luton also saw 1.31% and 1.30% axed respectively.
Data from 2026 paints a similar picture, with 36 of the 1,050 flights from Gatwick and Heathrow to Majorca cancelled so far, a rate of 3.44%, while scrapped journeys between London and Ibiza have also already totalled 3.05%.
Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, said: “Cancellation risk on UK routes to Europe is not spread evenly, and this summer the Balearics are carrying a bigger share of it than anywhere else.
“That’s worth understanding before you travel, because a cancellation is not just a long wait at the gate.
“You lose your slot. Same-day options dry up quickly. And from that point on, the airline decides what happens next, not you.”
Mr Radchenko also urged travellers to check if they are owed compensation in the event of a cancellation, with the UK’s air passenger rights law granting renumeration of between £220 and £520 for flights cancelled less than 14 days before departure.
“You also have the right to be rebooked on the next available flight, or to choose a later that works for you,” he said.
“If the airline offers you a voucher, don’t accept it before checking what you’re owed in cash. Vouchers come with conditions; they expire and taking one can close off your right to claim.”
