Hundreds of British holidaymakers found themselves stranded at Palma de Mallorca Airport following a wave of flight cancellations and delays caused by severe weather and ensuing air traffic control (ATC) restrictions across Northern Europe. The disruption, which unfolded on Sunday, June 1, 2025, during the UK’s half-term break, left families scrambling to find alternative routes home amid mounting frustration and uncertainty.
EasyJet was at the center of the chaos, with fewer than 10 of its flights cancelled outright, yet more than 120 flights experienced significant delays. These disruptions were attributed by the airline to widespread thunderstorms sweeping across Northern Europe, which led to air traffic control restrictions that were beyond the airline’s control. The situation left passengers stranded in the Palma airport terminal, many of whom had expected to return home after their holidays but instead faced an agonizing wait.
Among those caught up in the turmoil was Beth Rafferty, a 31-year-old insurance system administrator from Hastings, East Sussex. She was traveling with her partner, Lewis Chapman, 26, and their two children, aged eight and ten. Their 7pm easyJet flight to London Gatwick was cancelled just as they were preparing to board, with the airline citing "air traffic control restrictions" due to the weather. Beth described the scene at Palma airport as chaotic, with hundreds of passengers, including many families, stranded and left to wonder why most cancellations seemed to affect easyJet flights during their time slot.
"We've been sat watching loads of other flights from other airlines land and take off, so we're not sure why," Beth told The Sun. "Apparently there was an air traffic control issue. As far as I'm aware, all the flights cancelled have been easyJet. The only information provided is the air traffic control issue." She added that about six other easyJet flights scheduled around the same 7pm slot were also cancelled.
With no suitable rebooking options available through easyJet, Beth’s family faced significant out-of-pocket expenses. They paid £300 (€355) for emergency hotel accommodation and spent a further £1,500 (€1,777) securing Jet2 flights to Bournemouth, ensuring their children could return to school on time. Beth confirmed she contacted the children’s school, which assured her they would not face fines for the absence.
In response to the widespread disruption, an easyJet spokesperson said: "Unfortunately, due to the impact of widespread thunderstorms across Northern Europe yesterday, some flights were unable to operate as planned. We did all we could to minimise the impact of the weather disruption on our customers, providing options to rebook or refund their flights as well as providing hotel accommodation and meals for those who required them. The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is easyJet's highest priority and while this was outside of our control, we are sorry for the inconvenience caused."
The airline emphasized that the cancellations and delays were considered "extraordinary circumstances," a classification that exempts them from paying compensation for the disruptions. Passengers are, however, legally entitled to refunds or re-routing options, which easyJet said it provided where possible.
This episode of travel chaos comes amid growing concerns about the reliability of Europe’s air traffic control systems. Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, has been vocally critical of ATC services across the continent, describing them as "shoddy" and warning that 2025 could see record delays during the peak summer travel season. O’Leary’s frustrations are not new; Ryanair is currently suing the UK’s air traffic control body, NATS, for £5 million (€5.87 million) following a 2023 incident where a remote-working engineer allegedly caused system failures affecting some 700,000 passengers.
The stormy weather and resulting ATC restrictions in early June have underscored the fragility of Europe’s air travel infrastructure, especially during high-demand periods like school holidays. While Palma Airport appeared to be operating normally by Tuesday, June 3, the fallout from the cancellations and delays continued to ripple through the travel plans of hundreds of families.
Passengers affected by flight cancellations and delays have legal rights under EU and UK law, including the right to care and assistance at the airport, such as food, drink, accommodation, and communication means. However, compensation for delays only applies if the airline is at fault, which is generally not the case for weather-related disruptions. Travelers are also advised to check their travel insurance policies, as some may offer additional coverage for such events.
The Palma de Mallorca incident highlights the challenges airlines face when weather and air traffic control issues converge, particularly during busy travel periods. For families like Beth Rafferty’s, the experience was more than just an inconvenience—it was a costly scramble to get back to everyday life.
As the summer travel season approaches, industry experts and travelers alike are bracing for further disruptions unless significant improvements are made to air traffic control systems across Europe. For now, passengers are urged to stay informed, plan for contingencies, and understand their rights when flights are delayed or cancelled.
