Operational issues and lingering weather knock-ons caused 420 flight delays and 27 cancellations across Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham International and London City airports on 20 February 2026, according to data compiled by FlightAware and reported by Travel and Tour World.
Manchester saw the worst disruption with 137 delayed departures, while Heathrow recorded nine cancellations in addition to 121 delays. The timing was particularly painful for corporate travellers as it coincided with both the European half-term holiday surge and the run-up to the UK’s new ETA rules, limiting re-booking flexibility.
For companies needing rapid travel-document solutions amid the new ETA requirements, VisaHQ can help streamline the process. Its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) provides up-to-date visa guidance and application assistance, reducing the risk of additional delays for passengers already facing tight rebooking windows.
![Wave of flight delays and cancellations hits five major UK airports]()
Airlines scrambled to re-crew affected rotations, but staff shortages amplified knock-on effects: delayed inbound aircraft could not be turned around in time, and crew-duty limits forced further cancellations. Hotels near Heathrow and Manchester reported near-instant sell-outs as stranded passengers sought overnight accommodation.
Travel managers are advised to monitor load factors and build buffer days into itineraries over the next week, especially for travellers connecting onward from UK hubs. The episode also highlights the importance of duty-of-care tracking tools that can locate and assist employees during large-scale disruptions.
While the cause was operational rather than security-related, the breadth of the impact underscores fragility in UK aviation scheduling that employers must factor into mobility risk assessments.
Manchester saw the worst disruption with 137 delayed departures, while Heathrow recorded nine cancellations in addition to 121 delays. The timing was particularly painful for corporate travellers as it coincided with both the European half-term holiday surge and the run-up to the UK’s new ETA rules, limiting re-booking flexibility.
For companies needing rapid travel-document solutions amid the new ETA requirements, VisaHQ can help streamline the process. Its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) provides up-to-date visa guidance and application assistance, reducing the risk of additional delays for passengers already facing tight rebooking windows.
Airlines scrambled to re-crew affected rotations, but staff shortages amplified knock-on effects: delayed inbound aircraft could not be turned around in time, and crew-duty limits forced further cancellations. Hotels near Heathrow and Manchester reported near-instant sell-outs as stranded passengers sought overnight accommodation.
Travel managers are advised to monitor load factors and build buffer days into itineraries over the next week, especially for travellers connecting onward from UK hubs. The episode also highlights the importance of duty-of-care tracking tools that can locate and assist employees during large-scale disruptions.
While the cause was operational rather than security-related, the breadth of the impact underscores fragility in UK aviation scheduling that employers must factor into mobility risk assessments.
