Home » ICELAND TRAVEL NEWS » Passengers Left Stranded in Iceland as SAS, Lufthansa, Icelandair, Finnair, and easyJet Cancel 34 Flights and Delay 9, Hitting Hard at Keflavik Airport and Crippling Travel to Helsinki, London, Copenhagen, Tenerife, Stockholm, and Dublin Amid Severe Weather Warnings
Published on
March 20, 2026
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Passengers have been left stranded in Iceland as 34 flight cancellations and 9 delays hit Keflavik International Airport, crippling travel to key European destinations like Helsinki, London, Copenhagen, Tenerife, Stockholm, and Dublin due to severe weather conditions. A powerful storm, bringing strong winds, snow, and drifting snow, has caused dangerous travel conditions across the country, particularly affecting flights to and from Iceland’s busiest airport. The disruptions have left hundreds of travelers frustrated and uncertain, as authorities predict the harsh weather will continue to impact travel well into the weekend.
In a disastrous turn of events, Keflavik International Airport, Iceland’s primary gateway for international travel, is facing severe disruptions as a result of extreme weather conditions. With a staggering 34 flight cancellations and 9 delays reported today, passengers from around the world are facing unprecedented travel chaos. Destinations such as Helsinki, London, Copenhagen, Tenerife, Stockholm, and Dublin have been heavily impacted, leaving travelers stranded and uncertain about when they can get home.
A Devastating Day for Keflavik Airport
Passengers had been eagerly anticipating their flights to key European cities when the storm began to wreak havoc on travel plans. But Iceland’s weather, particularly in the southern and western regions, proved unforgiving, with strong south-westerly winds, heavy snowfall, and drifting snow reducing visibility and causing dangerous conditions across roads and mountain passes. The Icelandic Meteorological Office issued a yellow weather warning, forecasting severe weather conditions lasting until Saturday morning. Winds reached up to 35 meters per second in some areas, and road conditions became treacherous, exacerbating the airport’s struggles to handle flights as scheduled.
The chaos began to unfold early in the day when numerous flights, primarily heading to popular European cities, were canceled due to the adverse weather conditions. By mid-day, it became clear that the situation was not improving, and delays were quickly accumulating. As the hours passed, it became apparent that an overwhelming number of passengers were being affected, particularly those trying to travel to key destinations such as Helsinki, London, Copenhagen, Tenerife, Stockholm, and Dublin.
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The Airlines and Their Impact
The disruptions were spread across a variety of airlines, with several major carriers seeing flight cancellations and delays. Icelandair, the national airline of Iceland, was hit the hardest, with 29 cancellations and 2 delays. British Airways was also significantly affected, with 3 flights canceled, while easyJet experienced 6 cancellations despite having only 9 delays in total. Other airlines, including SAS, Finnair, and Lufthansa, also saw disruptions, though to a lesser extent.
Here’s a breakdown of the flight cancellations and delays across the affected airlines:
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AirlineCancellations (#)Cancellations (%)Delays (#)Delays (%)Icelandair2936%22%British Airways375%00%SAS150%00%Finnair150%00%Lufthansa00%150%easyJet00%666%A Breakdown of Canceled Departures
For the unlucky passengers at Keflavik International Airport, the following flights were canceled, stranding many in Iceland until conditions improve. The airlines most affected were Icelandair, British Airways, and SAS, which led to significant disruptions for travelers heading to top destinations in Europe.
Here are the canceled departures, including the airline, flight number, destination, and departure time:
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Flight No.AirlineAircraft TypeDestinationDeparture TimeICE750IcelandairB763Liege (LGG / EBLG)Fri 07:40PM GMTBAW897British AirwaysA21NLondon Heathrow (LHR / EGLL)Fri 06:10PM GMTBAW895British AirwaysA20NLondon Heathrow (LHR / EGLL)Fri 11:50AM GMTSAS596SASA20NCopenhagen (CPH / EKCH)Fri 11:30AM GMTICE580IcelandairB38MTenerife South (Reina Sofia) (TFS / GCTS)Fri 10:00AM GMTFIN992FinnairA321Helsinki-Vantaa (HEL / EFHK)Fri 10:00AM GMTICE588IcelandairB39MGran Canaria Int’l (LPA / GCLP)Fri 09:55AM GMTICE584IcelandairB38MAlicante (ALC / LEAL)Fri 08:30AM GMTICE440IcelandairA21NManchester (MAN / EGCC)Fri 08:20AM GMTICE562IcelandairB752Leonardo da Vinci Int’l (Fiumicino Int’l) (FCO / LIRF)Fri 08:20AM GMTICE434IcelandairB38MEdinburgh (EDI / EGPH)Fri 08:00AM GMTICE318IcelandairB39MOslo, Gardermoen (OSL / ENGM)Fri 07:50AM GMTICE544IcelandairB38MCharles de Gaulle/Roissy (CDG / LFPG)Fri 07:45AM GMTICE500IcelandairA21NAmsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Fri 07:40AM GMTICE416IcelandairB752Dublin Int’l (DUB / EIDW)Fri 07:40AM GMTICE470IcelandairB38MLondon Gatwick (LGW / EGKK)Fri 07:40AM GMTICE204IcelandairB763Copenhagen (CPH / EKCH)Fri 07:35AM GMTICE430IcelandairB38MGlasgow Int’l (GLA / EGPF)Fri 07:35AM GMTICE554IcelandairB38MBrussels (BRU / EBBR)Fri 07:35AM GMTICE306IcelandairA21NStockholm-Arlanda (ARN / ESSA)Fri 07:35AM GMTICE450IcelandairB38MLondon Heathrow (LHR / EGLL)Fri 07:35AM GMTICE528IcelandairB38MBerlin-Brandenburg (BER / EDDB)Fri 07:30AM GMTICE342IcelandairB38MHelsinki-Vantaa (HEL / EFHK)Fri 07:30AM GMTICE542IcelandairB39MCharles de Gaulle/Roissy (CDG / LFPG)Fri 07:30AM GMTICE520IcelandairB39MFrankfurt Int’l (FRA / EDDF)Fri 07:25AM GMTICE536IcelandairB38MVáclav Havel Airport (PRG / LKPR)Fri 07:20AM GMTICE532IcelandairB38MMunich Int’l (MUC / EDDM)Fri 07:20AM GMTFXI101Air IcelandDH8BKulusuk (KUS / BGKK)Wed 10:30AM GMTFXI101Air IcelandDH8BKulusuk (KUS / BGKK)Sat 10:30AM GMTAirlines Respond to the Crisis
As of now, airlines have been working hard to accommodate affected passengers. However, with the ongoing severe weather conditions and no immediate relief expected, passengers are being advised to monitor the situation closely and check with their airlines for updates.
While Icelandair has been the most significantly affected carrier, both British Airways and SAS have also experienced substantial disruptions. British Airways, for example, had 3 flights canceled (with a high cancellation rate of 75%), while SAS and Finnair saw one cancellation each, disrupting travel plans for passengers headed to Copenhagen and Helsinki, respectively.
However, it wasn’t just cancellations. A number of flights from easyJet were also delayed, affecting travelers attempting to reach destinations like London, but the airline has been praised for its effort to keep some flights operating under challenging conditions.
What’s Next for Passengers?
With weather forecasts predicting worsening conditions over the next 24 hours, it is unclear when operations at Keflavik Airport will return to normal. Passengers are being urged to avoid unnecessary travel, as winds are expected to reach speeds of up to 23 meters per second, and snow and rain will continue to cause hazardous road conditions.
For travelers stranded in Iceland, the situation remains tense as they await further information about rebookings and alternative travel options. Many are seeking shelter at the airport’s lounges, while others have been booked into nearby hotels until conditions improve. As snow continues to fall and winds remain fierce, passengers are holding their breath, hoping the airport can recover quickly.
Passengers have been left stranded in Iceland as 34 cancellations and 9 delays cripple travel at Keflavik International Airport, caused by severe weather conditions including heavy snow, strong winds, and reduced visibility. These extreme conditions have disrupted flights to key European destinations like Helsinki, London, and Dublin.
Today’s storm has exposed the vulnerability of international air travel, particularly at a hub like Keflavik International Airport. With the combination of Iceland’s notoriously unpredictable weather and an influx of cancellations, passengers are facing a challenging wait for normal operations to resume. While airlines continue to deal with the crisis, passengers should be prepared for delays and cancellations, with no clear timeline for the end of the disruptions.
