- Flight Disruptions
- Lufthansa, United, and KLM cancellations hit 18 flights at Frankfurt and Munich
Lufthansa, United, and KLM cancellations hit 18 flights at Frankfurt and Munich
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Eligible for compensation
Checked by Matteo Floris
Last updated on 13 May 2026
18
Affected flights
12
Affected airports
3
Affected airlines
Disruption overview
On 13 May 2026, Frankfurt Airport and Munich Airport each recorded nine cancellations, removing a total of 18 departures operated by Lufthansa, United Airlines, KLM, and ICE Airlines. The disruption hit domestic, European, and long-haul routes including Berlin, Rome, Naples, Palermo, Amsterdam, Keflavik, and Washington, leaving passengers to deal with missed connections and crowded rebooking lines. Because these flights were due to depart from EU airports, affected passengers may be entitled to rerouting or a refund under EC 261, and some may also be able to claim up to £520 compensation if the airlines can't show the problem was outside their control.
Passengers affected by this flight disruption may be eligible for compensation of up to £520 under passenger rights regulations.
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Disruption details
Passengers traveling through Frankfurt Airport and Munich Airport on 13 May 2026 faced major disruption after 18 departures were canceled across Germany's two busiest hubs.
For passengers, this meant last-minute plan changes, missed onward connections, and long lines at airline desks as they tried to find replacement seats. With nine same-day cancellations at each airport, the disruption likely affected thousands of travelers during a single operating window.
At Frankfurt Airport , Lufthansa accounted for most of the canceled departures. Flights to Berlin Brandenburg, Rome Fiumicino, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Ljubljana, and Munich were pulled, alongside an ICE Airlines Boeing 757 service to Keflavik. Two separate Lufthansa departures to Rome were removed from the day's schedule from Frankfurt alone.
At a glance, the cancellations removed a wide mix of domestic, regional, and long-haul links:
Frankfurt lost Lufthansa flights to Berlin, Rome, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Ljubljana, and Munich, plus an ICE Airlines service to Keflavik.
Munich lost two United Airlines Boeing 787-8 flights to Washington Dulles, a KLM Embraer E190 to Amsterdam Schiphol, and Lufthansa or Lufthansa-regional flights to Rome, Naples, Bari, Palermo, and Frankfurt.
Italy-bound routes were hit especially hard, while domestic German, Dutch, Icelandic, Slovenian, and US connections were also affected.
The airports and airlines described the cause only as operational. No weather warnings, strikes, or air traffic control restrictions were cited, which points instead to an internal scheduling or resource issue that appeared without advance public notice.
Lufthansa carried the largest share of the lost capacity, which matters because of its hub role at Frankfurt and Munich. United's two canceled Munich-Washington services cut an important transatlantic business and government corridor, while KLM's canceled Amsterdam flight removed a key feeder connection. The ICE Airlines cancellation from Frankfurt to Keflavik also broke an Iceland link used by passengers continuing onward.
By the afternoon, airline call centers and airport rebooking desks were under heavy pressure. With so many departures removed at once, remaining seats on alternative services were filling quickly, adding more stress for passengers trying to stay on schedule.
So far, the disruption appears to be confined to 13 May 2026. No broader ground-stop or curfew notices were issued, and normal schedules are expected to resume on 14 May if there are no further operational issues.
Because every canceled flight was due to depart from an EU airport, affected passengers are covered by EC 261. If your flight was canceled, your airline must offer you a choice between rerouting and a refund. It must also provide care like food, refreshments, and hotel accommodation if you're left stranded overnight.
If the cancellation happened at short notice, or your replacement flight got you to your destination more than 3 hours late, you may also be entitled to up to £520 compensation under EC 261, unless the airline can show the disruption was outside its control. If you were affected by the Frankfurt or Munich cancellations, you can check your compensation with AirHelp's free flight checker in just 2 minutes.
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.
Up to £520 compensation
Passengers whose flights were canceled or delayed over 3 hours may be entitled to financial compensation ranging up to £520 per person. Check your flight.
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.
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
Cancellations
Cause
Other
Status
Current disruption
Compensation
Could be eligible for up to £520 compensation
Flights affected
18
Airlines affected
Lufthansa, United Airlines, KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines
Airports affected
Frankfurt am Main Airport, Munich Franz Josef Strauss Airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Naples Airport, Falcone e Borsellino International Airport, Fontanarossa Airport, Bari Palese Airport, Ljubljana Joze Pucnik Airport, Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport
Cities affected
Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Rome, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Bari, Ljubljana, Keflavik, Amsterdam, Washington, Reykjavik
Countries affected
Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, United States
Start date
2026-05-13
Checked by
Matteo Floris
Date updated
13 May 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, cancelled, 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.
