European airlines have caused confusion by focusing on hundreds of flights this summer. Swiss Airlines International (also known as Switzerland) suddenly cancelled 1,400 trips and denounced the decision on a shortage of pilots and fleets. The suspension is expected to continue until October.
Experts at AirAdvisor say the move has “rip-over effects” in Europe and beyond, and could affect 50,000 UK travelers. This is because Switzerland currently operates direct flights to four major airports: London Heathrow, London City, Manchester and Edinburgh. Approximately 10-15 UK flights are run by Swiss per day, with the majority predicted to be away from London's Heathrow, accounting for 10-12% of the mass cancellations.
This directly affects travelers to the airline's hub, Zurich, but can indirectly disrupt passengers flying to long-distance destinations.
Airadvisor aviation expert, Anton Radchenk, claims that cancellation is “the tip of the iceberg” and reflects the broader issues of the European aviation industry.
“2025 is already infamous for cancelling flights, especially in Germany, Italy, Greece, France and Finland, due to sustained industrial behavior and ATC issues,” he said.
He added: “With this latest wave of Swiss cancellations, summer has become more complicated for UK travelers. We don't see any demand issues, but we're looking at the bottlenecks of staffing and scheduling. We're affirming not because people aren't lying, but because the airlines don't have enough trained pilots to operate them.”
If you are affected by the axis, you are entitled to a full refund and free rerouting under the EU261 regulations. If your flight departure is less than 14 days from the time of the announcement of Swiss cancellations, it can be between 220 and 520 pounds, depending on the distance and length of the flight.
“Through these aggressive adjustments to our flight schedule, our aim is to maintain the highest possible level of stability and reliability for passengers,” Switzerland said in a statement sent to the mirror.
“On long-haul routes, this will affect flights to Shanghai until the end of June, and will affect Chicago until the end of June and between September and October.
“For short and medium-range routes, this will affect flights from Geneva Airport to various destinations from early May to the end of October. From Zurich Airport, individual flights must be cancelled in August and September to various European destinations.
“We regret not being able to provide the affected connections as originally planned, and in such cases we will notify the affected customers as soon as possible.
“Schedule adjustments are made as far as possible in advance to minimize inconveniences and find the best alternative travel solutions possible for passengers.”
The big blow to the British reminds us to book travel insurance as soon as we book our holiday. This will help protect you from losing money after paying for a hotel or field trip. This may not be possible because the flight has been cancelled.
