New travel data reveals more than 17 million UK passengers were disrupted in Q1

• Total number of disrupted travellers flying in and out of the UK has increased by more than 50% compared to Q1 2025

• Despite 3.3 million passenger increase, compensation eligible passengers fell by more than 40%

• Middle East conflict causes disruption globally, including to key European holiday routes, with jet fuel shortages on the way ahead of summer

April, 2026 – More than 17 million passengers (31%) travelling in and out of the UK have been disrupted in the first three months of 2026, according to new analysis from leading passenger rights organisation, AirHelp.

That total has increased by more than 3 million passengers compared to the same period in 2025, as conflict in the Middle East, industrial action and busy holiday travel periods have caused heavy delays and disruption, with nearly one in three flights (32%) experiencing disruption.

The data has also revealed that despite a 50%+ increase in disrupted passengers, the number of passengers who were eligible for compensation as a result of disruption has shrunk by more than 40%, from 701,000 in 2025, to 413,000 in 2026.

Travel to and from key countries in the Middle East were worst affected in Q1, due to the ongoing conflict which has caused mass disruption. Flights from Bahrain saw a 42% increase in disruption when compared to Q1 2025, with Saudi Arabia increasing by 27%, UAE by 29% and Qatar by 35%.

The data from AirHelp also shows the stark impact of the conflict on cancellations, with an average increase of 10% across flights from those four countries when comparing Q1 2025 to 2026.

Since the conflict began on February 28, more passengers have turned to tools like the AirHelp app to keep track of their journeys, with over 468,000 flights having been tracked over this period.

This period of disruption in the Middle East, alongside major industrial action in destinations like Spain, has meant that routes to key European holiday spots have also seen increased disruption across Q1.

Routes that saw particularly high levels of passenger disruption included Birmingham International Airport to Munich International Airport, which saw 93% of its passengers disrupted, London Heathrow to Zagreb Airport, which saw 79% disrupted, and Manchester International Airport to Vienna International Airport, which saw 68% disrupted.

As the UK’s passenger rights legislation, UK 261, and the EU’s equivalent, EC 261, do not cover compensation for conflict or third-party strikes, it is even more important that passengers understand their rights and prepare their journeys with potential disruption in mind.

With the conflict in the Middle East still ongoing, concerns around Q2, and summer travel beyond, are growing, with a critical European shortage of jet fuel that could throw thousands of holidays into jeopardy.

Tomasz Pawliszyn, AirHelp CEO, said: “Passengers travelling to and from the UK have already faced large-scale disruption, cancellation and delay this year, with our data showing the huge increases in Q1 compared to a year ago.

“With the peak travel season still to come, we are advising passengers to ensure that they are aware of the risk of disruption well in advance of their flights, as they may need to prepare differently to ensure that they are not caught out.

“With conflict still ongoing, the Airhelp App is helping to ensure that passengers stay on top of any flight disruption that may occur, and to check whether they may be eligible for compensation of up to £520, should they be disrupted in their travel.”

AirHelp data indicates that more than 413,000 passengers across the UK may have valid claims to compensation from Q1, yet many may not even know they are eligible to apply.

AirHelp is encouraging travellers to check their eligibility using the AirHelp app, which allows passengers to quickly assess claims and manage the process without the usual administrative burden.

For more information on your passenger rights, or to check if you are eligible for compensation, visit AirHelp.co.uk or download the AirHelp app.

About AirHelp

AirHelp is a travel tech company tackling flight disruptions. Since 2013, it has won compensation for over 3 million passengers with a flight delay or cancellation. 12 million passengers have protected their flights with AirHelp+ Protection, and countless millions more benefit from the expert information freely available on airhelp.com. AirHelp has also just released its new app, which offers real-time flight tracking, disruption alerts, and options for extra protection, download it here!

AirHelp is dedicated to investing in a greener future - it has pledged to plant 1 tree for every 100 flight disruptions and so far, it has planted 198,489 trees. As air passenger rights advocates, AirHelp cares about people, and caring about people also means caring about the planet.

#1 source for flight compensation worldwide

With innovative artificial intelligence and a dedicated team of over 400 AirHelpers, AirHelp makes it easy for any traveller in the EU, UK and beyond to receive up to €600 for flight delays and cancellations. For more information about AirHelp, visit: AirHelp.co.uk.

Methodology

• Data source: AirHelp Sigma

• Time period: 1 January 2026 – 31 March 2026 (Q1 2026)

• Geography: UK airport departures and arrivals

• Scope: Commercial flights operating to and from UK airports

• Disrupted route data: Only routes over 10,000 passengers in Q1 considered