Why Are Airlines Cancelling Flights: Top 10 Reasons

Nicolle Harwood-Nash

By:  Nicolle Harwood-Nash

14 minutes read

Last Updated:  July 17, 2026

Airlines cancel flights for a handful of recurring reasons: dangerous weather, aircraft or technical faults, air traffic control restrictions, crew and staff shortages, security issues, and too few passengers to make a flight worth operating. Almost every cancellation traces back to one of these, and whether the cause was inside the airline’s control is what decides if you are owed compensation.

Cancellations are more common than most travelers realize. According to the US Department of Transportation, US airlines operated about 16.3 million flights in 2023 and cancelled roughly 1.3% of them, the lowest rate in a decade. In 2024 that cancellation rate edged up to 1.4%. Even at that low percentage, it still adds up to hundreds of thousands of scrapped flights a year. Below, we break down the top 10 reasons airlines cancel flights, the impact on passengers, and what you can do when it happens to you.

1. Dangerous Weather

Severe weather can lead to cancellations, but we’re not just talking about a little rain or snow. When a flight is cancelled because of weather, you can trust that the situation is dangerous enough to warrant the cancellation.

Sometimes, with thunderstorms and high wind situations, an airline will opt to delay a flight until the situation has become more safe for flight, but in other cases, an airport and airline has no choice but to ground flights, sometimes on a large scale.

Looking at natural factors, we have seen more cancellations recently that severe weather can cause more flight disruptions. According to the Met Office, fog, snow and high winds means that the air traffic controllers have to increase the time between planes landing, which reduces the number of flights that an airport can manage at a time. - Gavin Lapedis, Director at eShores.

But you might be wondering how weather can still have such a huge impact on flights when we have so much technology available to us. Well, here’s why. Severe weather conditions can affect a pilot’s ability to take off, land, and navigate the aircraft safely as with low visibility due to fog. Similarly, heavy rain or snow can prevent the pilot from seeing the runway.

In other situations, a flight might be cancelled in Florida because of a snowstorm in Canada leaving passengers confused as to why their flight was cancelled when they were only flying to another warm location. With roughly 45,000 flights in operation every day in the US, a snowstorm that affects one airport can result in a cascade of delays and cancellations all over the country and even around the world in some cases.

2. Security Concerns

Airline security is always a top priority for airlines and regulatory authorities around the world. Various security measures are in place to ensure passengers' and crew members' safety, but these measures can sometimes lead to flight cancellations.

Enhanced security screenings are a major cause of flight disruptions, so if a passenger's bag triggers an alarm during the security screening process, the bag may need to be searched manually which means the flight can’t depart until this has been completed.

Another example is when an unruly passenger refuses to comply with the instructions from the crew. If the situation continues for too long and security has to remove the passenger, the flight might be cancelled as a result. Other security situations can include wildfires, civil unrest, a security breach in the airport, and any threats to security. Any credible threat to the safety of the airline and passengers may result in a cancelled flight.

3. Tight Flight Schedule

Passengers don’t always see what’s going on between flights, but a flurry of activity goes into play every time a plane lands. It’s not like getting on or off a bus. When a plane lands and the passengers disembark, there is a very short period of time for the aircraft to be cleaned and re-fueled, not to mention unloading baggage from one flight and stowing baggage for the next.

So, if a flight is delayed, this time period is shortened. If there are cumulative delays, then there is almost no turn-around time to prepare for the next departure. In fact, if there are multiple delays throughout the day, then the last flight might be cancelled. The situation can be exacerbated when these tight schedules and delays cause the crew to also be late, but we’ll talk more about that later.

If your flight was delayed, canceled or overbooked within the last 3 years, you could be eligible for up to €600 ($650) in compensation.Check Your Flight

4. No Airplane

Aircraft undergo regular maintenance and safety checks to ensure that they are safe to operate, but unforeseen mechanical issues can still occur - and, let’s face it, as inconvenient as a cancellation might be, no one wants to risk flying on a plane that could be unsafe. So, if an aircraft is grounded due to maintenance issues, the airline will need to call for another aircraft which might be the one intended for a later flight.

Moreover, a high demand for air travel during peak travel periods can also lead to airlines cancelling flights. Most airlines keep a set number of aircraft in their fleet, and during peak travel periods, such as holidays or summer vacation, the demand for air travel can exceed the number of available aircraft. When this situation occurs, it can lead to flight cancellations.

5. Not Enough Passengers

Passenger shortages can occur for several reasons including seasonal demand and economic conditions. When an airline doesn't have enough passengers for a particular flight, they may consider cancelling it or consolidating it with another flight to save money and resources. Airlines operate on tight schedules and have to maintain a certain level of profitability to remain operational.

So, operating a flight with too few passengers can lead to a financial loss for the airline, as the cost of operating the flight, such as fuel, crew salaries, and airport fees, may exceed the revenue generated by the passengers.

We also can’t underestimate the effect rising fuel costs are having on the aviation industry, the same way they are affecting our cars. The demands of this can cause airlines to cancel flights to manage their resources more effectively. - Gavin Lapedis, Director at eShores.

6. Air Traffic Restrictions

Delays caused by air traffic control and staff shortages significantly impact airline operations, leading to flight cancellations. Air traffic control is responsible for managing the flow of aircraft in the airspace, and when the number of flights exceeds the capacity of the airspace, they impose restrictions on the number of flights that can operate.

When they impose this restriction, airlines must adjust their flight schedules to comply with them. This adjustment typically involves rerouting flights, changing departure times, or cancelling flights altogether.

7. Technical Problems

While mechanical issues with an aircraft can affect cancellations, technical or computer problems can create even more trouble. In January 2023, the FAA computer system failed and resulted in the grounding of planes all over the US. But technical issues stemming from scheduling software or communication technology can also lead to flight cancellations. With technology becoming more and more central to flight operations, we can only expect that this will be an issue we see more of in the future.

8. Lack of Pilots or Staff

Airlines rely on a large number of personnel to operate their flights, including pilots, flight attendants, ground crew, and maintenance staff. If there are not enough personnel available, it can lead to airlines cancelling flights.

Staff shortages can occur because of illness, strikes, or other delays and cancellations. Sometimes, a pilot and/or crew must go from one aircraft to the next, and if their first flight was delayed or cancelled, it can lead to the same happening with flights later in the day. With airline personnel stretched thin, fatigue and decreased productivity can further exacerbate the problem.

Disrupted flight? You might have a right to compensation - up to €600 ($650).Check Your Flight

9. A Pilot Who Is Unwell

If there is one person aboard an aircraft who you want to be in top form, it is the pilot. But, because pilots are people too, they sometimes succumb to illness, fatigue, or any number of circumstances that would make them unable to fly the plane safely. So, if a pilot is deemed ‘unfit to fly’, it can sometimes lead to flight cancellations, especially if there are no available replacement pilots qualified to fly that specific aircraft.

10. Bird Strike

Bird strike is a common occurrence in the aviation industry, and it can lead to flight cancellations. You might be wondering how such a small animal like a bird could create so much havoc with something as big as a plane!

A bird strike occurs when an airplane collides with a bird or flock of birds during takeoff or landing or while in flight. A collision like this can damage the nose, windscreen, or engines and can lead to serious damage that takes a while to repair. So, when this happens, the airline must inspect the airplane before sending it on another flight, and this can cause your flight to be cancelled if another plane isn’t found as a replacement.

Controllable vs Extraordinary: Which Cancellations Get You Paid

Not every cancelled flight comes with a payout. Under EU261 and UK261, the deciding factor is whether the cause was within the airline’s control. If it was, and you were told less than 14 days before departure, you are likely owed fixed compensation on top of a refund or a new flight. If the cause was a genuine extraordinary circumstance, you still get a refund or re-routing, but no fixed payout. Here is how the 10 reasons above usually split.

*A routine technical fault counts as within the airline’s control. The Court of Justice of the EU has ruled that a surprise mechanical problem found during normal maintenance is not an extraordinary circumstance, so it still qualifies for compensation. A strike by the airline’s own staff is also treated as within its control, while a third-party strike such as air traffic controllers is not.

What are Your Rights If the Flight Was Cancelled

In most cases, if your flight is cancelled, you have several rights under the law, including the right to compensation. The compensation for cancelled flights varies depending on the circumstances of the cancellation.

Generally, if your flight is cancelled due to reasons within the airline's control, such as a lack of staff or a mechanical issue, you may be entitled to compensation for the inconvenience caused. This compensation can include a refund for the cost of the flight or alternative transportation to your destination.

If your flight departed from the EU or was operated by an EU airline, your claim falls under EU Regulation 261 (EC 261), which pays up to €600 when the cancellation was the airline’s fault and you were notified less than 14 days before departure. For flights to, from, or within the UK, the same protections apply under UK261, with payouts of up to £520. The exact amount depends on how far you were flying.

Your rights if you were flying to, from, or within the US

US rules work differently from Europe. There is no fixed cash payout for a cancellation, but under the Department of Transportation’s automatic refund rule, if the airline cancels or significantly changes your flight and you choose not to travel, you are owed an automatic refund to your original payment method. You should not have to fight for it or accept a voucher instead.

• What counts as a “significant change”: a departure or arrival that moves by more than 3 hours on a domestic flight or 6 hours on an international one, a switch to a different airport, added connections, or a downgrade.
• How fast you get paid: within 7 business days if you paid by credit card, or 20 calendar days for cash or cheque.
• If the cancellation was the airline’s fault (a controllable cancellation such as a mechanical or staffing problem), most major US carriers will also rebook you for free and cover meals, plus a hotel if you are stranded overnight.
• If weather or air traffic control caused it, you still get a refund when you decide not to fly, but the airline does not have to pay for meals or a hotel.

What to do the moment your flight is cancelled

1. Get rebooked fast. Ask for the next available flight while you are still at the gate, and use the airline app or phone line at the same time, since queues move slowly.
2. Keep the evidence. Save the cancellation email or text, your boarding pass, and any reason the airline gives you. It decides whether you can claim.
3. Ask for care. If you are stuck for hours, request meal vouchers, and for an overnight ask for a hotel and transport.
4. Choose a new flight or a refund. You can take the re-routing or ask for your money back. You do not have to accept a travel voucher.
5. Check if you are owed compensation. If the cause was within the airline’s control and you flew to or from Europe or the UK, you can claim up to €600 or £520 on top of the refund.

If you believe you are entitled to compensation, you can send a flight cancellation compensation letter to the airline to request it. It's essential to know your rights when it comes to flight cancellations, and to be proactive in seeking compensation if you believe you are entitled to it. Getting compensation can help alleviate the stress and inconvenience caused by a cancelled flight and make the situation more manageable.

Related: How to Claim Hotel Compensation for Cancelled Flights

Figuring out how much you are owed for a disrupted flight can be complicated. We're here to help. Let us assess your compensation for you.Check Your Flight

How to Reduce Your Chances of a Cancelled Flight

You cannot control the weather, but a few booking habits lower the odds of being the passenger left scrambling for a new flight.

• Book the first flight of the day. Early departures have not yet absorbed the day’s knock-on delays, so they are cancelled less often.
• Choose a nonstop flight. Every connection is another aircraft and crew that has to arrive on time, and another chance for something to go wrong.
• Fly a route with several flights a day. If your flight is scrapped, the airline can move you to the next one instead of stranding you until tomorrow.
• Favour airlines with a strong on-time record and leave a comfortable gap between connections when you book.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. While cancelled flights can be undeniably frustrating, there are usually solid reasons behind why it happened. It’s important to remember though that some cancelled flights are within the airline’s control and other times, the causes are attributed to extraordinary circumstances outside the control of the airline. If the airline had control of the circumstances, in the case of an airline strike, then you could submit a cancelled flight cancellation claim.

If you’ve had a cancelled flight anytime in the last 3 years here is what to do. Not sure if was the fault of the airline or not? You can always check to see if it is eligible for compensation by entering your flight details below!

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Author:

Nicolle Harwood-Nash

Job/Position: Writer & Content Creator

Nicolle is a copywriter and editor with over 15 years of international experience shaping content for industries including aviation, technology, finance, and healthcare. Skilled at both creative storytelling and precise editing, she brings adaptability and insight to every project she takes on.

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