Chaos at Romanian airports: the number of canceled flights has exploded. The EU announces that passengers are receiving their compensation
Romanian airports are among the most affected in Europe by the wave of flight cancellations caused by the increase in the price of aviation fuel. At Henri Coandă Bucharest, the situation has reached a critical level: the cancellation rate has multiplied 30 times compared to last year, while airports such as Cluj, Sibiu or Craiova also report significant disruptions. The European Commission stated that the increase in the price of fuel cannot be invoked by the airlines to avoid paying the compensation provided for by the European legislation.
Otopeni Airport, in the top European airports with the most flight cancellations
According to an analysis carried out by AirAdvisor on the operational performance from February 28 to May 14, 2026, the cancellation rate at Romania's main airport increased from only 0.10% in the same period last year to 3.15%, which represents an increase of approximately 30 times.
The data indicates that over 64% of the cancellations recorded in Bucharest were concentrated on the medium distance segment, between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers. It is about some of the most important connections of the Romanian diaspora to the major European centers, including London, Paris, Brussels and Frankfurt.
In the European ranking of disruptions, Otopeni – Henri Coandă Airport stands out with the highest rate of canceled flights among the large airports analyzed, of 3.16%, associated with an average delay of 124 minutes and 214 cancellations on short routes. The level of disruption is categorized as “high”.
For passengers, the consequences are significant. In the event of the cancellation of such flights, the compensation provided by European Regulation 261/2004 can reach 400 euros for many of the affected routes.
Source: AirAdvisor database February 28 – May 14, 2026 vs. the same period from 2025
The problems extend to the entire airport network in Romania
The situation in Otopeni is not an isolated one. AirAdvisor's analysis shows that the degradation of operational indicators is manifested at the level of the entire Romanian airport network.
Cluj-Napoca: the biggest increase
Avram Iancu Cluj International Airport (CLJ) recorded the most spectacular percentage increase in cancellations. Their rate rose from 0.03% in 2025 to 2.47% in 2026, which is an 82-fold increase.
Although the absolute level of cancellations remains lower than that recorded in Bucharest, the accelerated rate of deterioration indicates increasing operational and financial pressures on the carriers operating at Cluj airport.
Sibiu: the highest cancellation rate in Romania
Sibiu International Airport (SBZ) recorded the highest rate of cancellations among all Romanian airports analyzed.
In the monitored period, the cancellation rate reached 9.26%, compared to 0.63% in the previous year. All 56 registered cancellations affected exclusively short-haul routes, under 1,500 kilometers.
Craiova enters the map of disturbances
For the first time, Craiova International Airport (CRA) appears in the statistics on significant air traffic disruptions.
The cancellation rate reached 1.91%, after no cancellations had been recorded in the same period last year. At the same time, the delinquency rate rose to 6.22% from just 0.45%.
Brașov-Ghimbav, affected by delays
Romania's newest operational airport, Brașov-Ghimbav International Airport (GHV), is not yet experiencing high levels of cancellations, but has seen a significant deterioration in punctuality.
The delinquency rate reached 4.92% in 2026, compared to no delinquencies in the same period in 2025.
Why more and more airlines are canceling flights
Experts point to the explosion of aviation fuel costs as the main factor.
Kerosene prices have almost doubled since the start of 2026, putting the most financial pressure on low-cost operators in four years. These companies dominate the short-haul flight market both in Romania and in most of Europe.
In the case of short-haul routes, the fuel cost represents a larger share of the total ticket price, and the profit margins are much lower. Consequently, when costs rise sharply, airlines tend to reduce frequencies or cancel flights deemed insufficiently profitable.
Airlines cancel 13,000 flights and cut two million seats for May due to fuel crisis
According to AirAdvisor, it is these routes that show the first and most pronounced signs of deterioration.
European Commission: passengers retain their right to compensation
On May 8, 2026, the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) of the European Commission published new guidelines on the application of air passenger rights.
The institution reconfirmed that the volatility of fuel prices represents a normal commercial risk and cannot be invoked as an “extraordinary circumstance” within the meaning of the European Regulation EU261.
Therefore, passengers affected by the cancellations retain their full rights to:
- reimbursement of the ticket cost;
- redirect to destination;
- airport assistance;
- financial compensation of up to 600 euros, depending on the flight distance and the circumstances of the case.
The European Commission also emphasized that an airline's decision to cancel a flight because it is no longer profitable is not a legal reason to avoid paying compensation.
At the same time, air operators cannot retroactively introduce fuel surcharges for tickets already sold.
“The fact that a situation is commercially inconvenient does not make it an extraordinary circumstance. European law draws this distinction precisely and exists precisely for such situations. Passengers affected by cancellations are entitled to compensation. The evolution of fuel prices does not change this”, said Anton Radchenko, founder and CEO of AirAdvisor.
He added that airlines have the right to make commercial decisions when faced with cost pressures, but cannot pass on the consequences of those decisions to passengers by refusing to pay statutory compensation.
What does the situation look like at European level?
AirAdvisor data shows that the phenomenon is not limited to Romania. In total, 18 major European airports have seen significant increases in short-haul flight cancellations since the start of 2026.
Among the most affected European airports are:
- London Heathrow (UK) – cancellation rate of 1.91% and 278 cancellations on short routes;
- Naples Capodichino (Italy) – 2.27% cancellation rate;
- Oslo Gardermoen (Norway) – 1.93%;
- Milan Malpensa (Italy) – 1.09%;
- Amsterdam Schiphol (Netherlands) – 1.35%;
- Rome Fiumicino (Italy) – 1.36%.
In terms of delays, the highest levels were recorded at:
- Alicante-Elche (Spain) – 11.73%;
- Palma de Mallorca (Spain) – 7.60%;
- Lisbon Portela (Portugal) – 6.74%;
- Madrid Barajas (Spain) – 6.29%;
- London Heathrow – 6.26%.
Although airports such as Heathrow, Schiphol or Frankfurt manage much higher volumes of traffic than Otopeni, Bucharest airport stands out for the most severe deterioration of the cancellation indicator, compared to comparable volumes of flights.
The EU requires airlines to compensate passengers for flight cancellations linked to the cost of kerosene
What passengers should do if the flight is delayed or cancelled
In the context of the increase in the number of disruptions, specialists recommend that passengers act quickly to protect their rights.
Key measures include:
- verification of eligibility for compensation based on EU Regulation 261/2004;
- immediate request for assistance provided by the airline;
- keeping boarding passes, reservations and all relevant documents;
- keeping vouchers and receipts for additional expenses;
- avoiding the acceptance of vouchers without clarifying the effects on the right to compensation;
- fast submission of compensation claims after the trip is completed.
Passengers can submit complaints both to the Romanian Civil Aviation Authority (AACR) and to the National Consumer Protection Authority (ANPC).
