- Flight Disruptions
- Storms disrupt over 3,000 flights across Europe and Türkiye as Sabiha Gökçen restrictions continue
Storms disrupt over 3,000 flights across Europe and Türkiye as Sabiha Gökçen restrictions continue
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Checked by Alice Mariscotti-Wyatt
Last updated on March 30, 2026
3,398
Affected flights
11
Affected airports
8
Affected airlines
Disruption overview
Severe weather across Europe and Türkiye on 29 March 2026 triggered 364 cancellations and 3,034 delays, with Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport seeing the heaviest disruption and restrictions continuing into 30 March 2026. AJet and Pegasus Airlines alone canceled 127 services there, while delays spread to airports including London Heathrow Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Frankfurt International Airport, and Munich International Airport.
If your flight was affected, compensation is unlikely because the main cause was weather outside the airline's control. However, airlines should still provide care, assistance, and rerouting or refunds during long disruptions and cancellations.
Disruption details
Severe storms disrupted at least 3,398 flights across Europe and Türkiye on 29 March 2026, with Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport hit hardest and restrictions set to remain in place on 30 March 2026. For passengers, this meant canceled departures, long waits, diversions, and difficult onward connections as high winds, heavy rain, and poor visibility slowed traffic across major hubs.
The overall impact included at least 364 cancellations and 3,034 delays. Türkiye saw the biggest share of the disruption. At Sabiha Gökçen alone, 181 flights were canceled and 64 were delayed in a single day. AJet canceled 51 services, while Pegasus Airlines dropped another 76. Antalya Airport also recorded 15 cancellations and 62 delays, and further disruption was logged at Izmir Adnan Menderes International Airport and Dalaman Airport.
Around Istanbul, some aircraft were diverted after extended holding times used up fuel reserves. Tighter security measures linked to the Middle East crisis also slowed traffic flows, adding more pressure to operations already limited by the weather.
Across the rest of Europe, cancellations were lower, but delays built quickly:
London Heathrow Airport recorded 8 cancellations and 257 delays.
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport recorded 4 cancellations and 264 delays.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport saw 3 cancellations and 147 delays.
Berlin-Brandenburg Airport logged 8 cancellations and 106 delays.
Frankfurt International Airport and Munich International Airport recorded 205 and 140 delays.
Airports and airlines urged travelers to keep checking their websites and apps for real-time updates and to rebook where possible. The Sabiha Gökçen airport authority, HEAS, said weather-related restrictions would remain in force on 29 and 30 March 2026, and national meteorological services stressed that safety limits would stay in place until conditions improved.
That matters because this was not just a short spell of bad weather. With summer demand starting to build, disruption at major airports can carry through to later flights and leave passengers scrambling to rearrange connections, accommodation, and ground transport.
If your trip was affected, it's understandable to feel frustrated. A day like this can turn a straightforward journey into hours of uncertainty, especially when delays spread across several countries at the same time.
Even though many of these journeys fall under EC 261 or Turkish air passenger rights, compensation is unlikely here because severe weather and security-related restrictions are outside the airline's control.
But your airline should still offer support, as well as food, drinks, and accommodation if you're delayed for a long time or stranded overnight. If your flight is canceled, you are also entitled to a including rerouting or a refund.
Know your rights
These are your air passenger rights
When your flight's disrupted, you may be entitled to various forms of care and compensation under EC 261 and other applicable laws.
Rerouting or refund
If your flight is canceled, your airline must provide an alternative. You may also get a full refund if you no longer wish to travel.
Care and assistance
Your airline must provide food and refreshments if your journey is delayed more than a few hours.
Accommodation
If you are away from home and your journey is delayed overnight, the airline must offer you accommodation and transportation to it.
Communication
Under EC 261 you are entitled to 2 phone calls or emails if your journey is delayed over 1 hour. No compensation when a disruption is caused by extraordinary circumstances, as this appears to be.
This advice is provided to help you if your flight is delayed or canceled. However, the exact care and compensation you are entitled to will depend on your specific circumstances and flight. Always follow the directions of your airline, particularly with regard to check-in and boarding times.
Quick facts
Summary
Disruption
Delays and Cancellations
Cause
Weather issue
Status
Current disruption
Compensation
Not eligible for compensation
Flights affected
3398
Airlines affected
Jetsmart Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, easyJet, Turkish Airlines, Ryanair, British Airways, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle
Airports affected
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen, Istanbul Havalimani Airport, Antalya Airport, Adnan Menderes Airport, Dalaman Airport, London Heathrow Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Frankfurt am Main Airport, Munich Franz Josef Strauss Airport
Cities affected
Istanbul, London, Cologne, Prague, Munich, Antalya, Izmir, Dalaman, Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, Manchester, Edinburgh, Madrid, Barcelona, Helsinki, Stockholm
Countries affected
Turkey, United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Czech Republic, Türkiye
Start date
2026-03-29
End date
2026-03-30
Checked by
Alice Mariscotti-Wyatt
Date updated
March 30, 2026
What to do if your flight is delayed, canceled, or overbooked
If you're traveling to, from, or within the European Union, here's what you should do when you experience a disruption.
Gather evidence that your flight was delayed, canceled, or overbooked.
Get the airline to provide written confirmation of the disruption and the reason behind it.
Request an alternative flight to your destination — or a refund if you no longer wish to travel.
Make a note of the arrival time at your final destination.
Ask the airline to provide vouchers for meals and refreshments.
Avoid signing documents or accepting offers that may waive your passenger rights.
If an overnight stay is required, ask the airline to provide accommodation.
Save receipts for any additional expenses caused by the disruption.
