Planes flights and airlines

FOR the first time in 12 years, Dubai Airport could be knocked off its top spot for the world’s busiest airport.

It’s set to be overtaken by a hub in South Korea which has indoor waterfalls and peaceful gardens – while London Heathrow stays at number two.

Incheon International Airport could become the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, according to preliminary data from the Airports Council International.

The data reveals that Incheon served 38.4million international passengers during the first six months of 2026 which could see it given the title.

Prior to this, Dubai International held the crown of the world’s busiest airport for international passengers for over a decade.

Last year it saw 96.2million international passengers in one year.

TOP MARKS

Cheap all inclusive hotels with brilliant Tripadvisor ratings – from £299pp

TOP STAYS

Best-rated UK hotels as voted for by guests – with rooms from just £31 a night

But due to the Iran War, footfall has decreased, and it’s predicted to fall outside of the top five.

However, Dubai International is still predicted to have seen 70million passengers by the end of the year.

According to the initial reports, London Heathrow is set to retain second place, recording 37.79 million passengers in the first half of the year.

It came in second place last year with 79.8million international passengers in 2025.

Expected to be in third place is Singapore’s Changi Airport, which has seen 34.53million international passengers pass through in the first half of this year.

Incheon International Airport first opened in 2001 as a hub for northwestern South Korea – about 25 miles away from Seoul and has seen visitor numbers skyrocket.

It has had an increase of 18 per cent this year with some traffic from flights taking different paths due to airspace closures.

South Korea has seen a surge in popularity in recent years thanks to K-pop as well as its fashion and food.

For anyone travelling across, to Incheon International Airport, they’ll find it’s modern and bright with high glass ceilings, plenty of natural light and indoor gardens.

The botanical zones have features like waterfalls as well as vertical gardens with trees and orchids to give it a calming feel.

Terminal 2 is designed to appear like an art museum with rotating installations, sculptures, and even interactive exhibits.

The airport also has a spa and sauna, capsule hotels, children’s play areas – outside is a 36,000-square-meter flower field and plane-spotting park.

One passenger was so impressed by the airport that he called it the “future of travel”.

Another called it “Korea’s most beautiful terminal”.

Incheon International Airport also ranked seventh in Travel + Leisure’s ‘World’s Best Awards’.

These airports were declared the best by readers who voted in their thousands for their favourites in multiple categories for the publication.

Official statistics will be released by the ACI in its World Airport Traffic Report next month.

POWER banks are an essential when it comes to travel – but there are strict rules in place for them.

Most know the main ones – like it cannot be used inflight – but here’s one some of you might not know about which could see it taken off you before boarding.

Most airlines allow power banks up to 100Wh without special approval onboard.

But anything over that, without the say-so from the airline, and they could be confiscated for being too big and some countries being particularly strict.

The Wh – which translates to watt-hours – should be printed on the label of your power bank and if travelling on most planes it needs to be under 100Wh or less.

In places like China and Japan, some passengers have had their large power banks taken off them.

ALL IN

UK holiday parks where you can go ALL INCLUSIVE from £25pp with shows & waterparks

RETRO RATES

Our fave childhood holidays that have stayed ridiculously CHEAP – from £9.50pp

Someone on Reddit explained: “Accidentally brought a power bank that was larger than 100 watt-hour on my international trip.

“It passed US TSA as under 100, clocked 106 and 136 watt-hour in two airports in China and refused on board as over 180Wh at Guangzhou International Airport.”

Rules are strict in Japan too with Japan Airlines currently allowing two power banks with 160Wh or less in hand luggage – but that is going down to 100Wh from January 2027.

A lot have warned that the label with the Wh must be clear or risk it being taken off you as well.

Someone else said: “It is the label that matters and if you have old ones that is too faint, it is almost foregone conclusion that it will be taken.

“Friends encountered in Korea and China recently where their older power banks were taken as it wasn’t clear enough.”

For those travelling to China, there is another requirement and this is that all power banks must be marked clearly with the mark ‘CCC’.

The 3C mark is a China Compulsory Certification and the power banks must also be 100Wh or under for all flights.

Any power banks over 160Wh require airline approval – and anything over that is banned.

Most airlines will also only allow one power bank onboard – but check prior to flying as some do allow two.

Power banks must be stored in hand luggage during a flight but not used while in the air as the lithium battery inside is a fire risk – and storing them in the wrong way can cause huge disruption.

In May of this year, an easyJet flight travelling from Egypt to the UK was forced to divert to Rome after a passenger revealed they had left a phone connected and charging via a power bank in their checked luggage

In July last year, a power bank caught fire on a Bangkok Airways flight from Samui to Hong Kong.

TRAVEL chaos caused by a major tech outage across all UK airports earlier this week has left thousands stranded – with many left out of pocket when booking back up flights and hotels.

An Air Traffic Control failure in the UK on Tuesday saw thousands of flights cancelled, resulting in travel chaos across the globe.

Many have since been asking if they can claim compensation back, with flights both delayed and cancelled for days.

However, as the NATS issue was classed as an “extraordinary circumstance” travellers are not entitled to cash compensation.

The maximum compensation you can get is for long-haul flights which are delayed four hours or more, which would be £520.

This is only for when the problems are the caused by the airline, directly, however.

Read more on travel inspo

GO ON

All the little-known websites for cheap or FREE tickets to gigs, theatre & festivals

ALL IN

I found the best value all inclusive London hotel… just £55pp with free food & booze

Lisa Minot, Head of Travel said: “Airlines are only required to give you compensation if the delay or cancellation is the airline’s fault, as in a technical failure on a plane or issues with crew.

“In this situation, where ATC is the reason for the chaos, there is unfortunately no compensation due.”

Yet, airlines do have a duty of care, so you can recoup some of your costs.

When affected by flight delays, airlines must provide travellers with food and drink as well as accommodation.

‘Care’ you should receive includes food and drink, two phone calls, accommodation and transport between the airport and where you are staying.

Usually, an airline will provide you with a voucher to get food or drink, however if a voucher isn’t provided, make sure you keep your receipts to claim back expenses incurred.

While an airline might automatically book your accommodation when your flight is delayed or cancelled, sometimes you might be asked to book it yourself via its website or a dedicated app.

Although, it is advised to always ask airport staff before booking a hotel yourself.

If you pay for your own hotel, you must make sure to keep all your receipts so you can claim back your costs.

Airlines will cover a hotel with a reasonable price though, so don’t go booking a five-star stay.

Then head to your airline’s website and find their expenses claims page and fill out the form with the relevant details.

The CAA also recommends asking for an itemised receipt to show what you purchased and how much was spent on each thing.

Lisa added: “Check your insurance policy to see if you have any redress if you have incurred additional costs like missing a concert or unable to pick up car hire. You may be able to claim for that.

“Generally for delays, if an airline looks after you or provides you with food and drink or hotels, you cannot claim for the same costs against your travel insurance.”

A MAJOR UK airport has quietly increased its drop off fees.

London Luton Airport passengers must now pay £9 to drop off, rather than £7.

The time has been slightly extended, with the fee covering up to 12 minutes, rather than 10 minutes.

After 12 minutes, drivers are also charged an extra £1 per minute, meaning you could pay up to £27 if waiting the max 30 minutes.

The fee must be paid online or by phone by midnight the day after the drop off.

Many travellers have taken to social media outraged by the increase.

Read more on travel inspo

GO ON

All the little-known websites for cheap or FREE tickets to gigs, theatre & festivals

SEA IT

All 25 of the English Riviera beaches ranked from best to worst – by a Devon local

One person said on Facebook: “Free in most European countries!”

Another added: “£7 was bad enough!”

A third person said: “Paid it this morning, spent three minutes in the drop off zone, crazy cost.”

Luton Airport last raised its drop off fee in late September 2025, meaning this is the second time in a year the airport has raised the fee.

The fee was raised by 40 per cent in 2025 from £5 for five minutes to £7 for 10 minutes.

The price hike was the first at the airport in five years.

Over the past year several airports have raised drop off fees, causing outrage among travellers.

Earlier this year, Stansted Airport raised its drop off fee from £7 to £10, for up to 15 minutes.

In 2025, Edinburgh Airport raised its fee to £6 for a 10-minute stay, with additional charges for longer stays.

Sun Travel has contacted Luton Airport for comment.

TRAVELLERS face another day of chaos across UK airports today following a major tech outage cancelling flights yesterday.

Thousands of passengers were hit by flight cancellations and delays yesterday due to an air traffic control issue emerging around 1pm.

People reported being stuck on planes on the tarmac for hours and many travellers are currently stranded abroad with new flights home only available next week.

NATS has now warned that delays are expected to continue as it tries to “clear a backlog of flights” – but here is all you need to know if you have been impacted.

My flight has been cancelled, what do I do?

Contact your airline immediately and ask to be rebooked onto the next available flight.

Airlines must provide you with this option. Unfortunately, in a situation like this where so many flights have been cancelled, it may be that they offer you a flight well into the next few days.

Read more on travel inspo

GO ON

All the little-known websites for cheap or FREE tickets to gigs, theatre & festivals

TRAVEL TIP

The £2.99 SIM hack that can save Brits HUNDREDS abroad

You do not have to accept this. If you can find an alternative flight with a different airline that will get you to your destination sooner, you have the right to either have the airline book you onto this or book it yourself.

Use a credit card, keep all receipts and claim it back from your airline. In situations like this, the last thing you should do is simply get a refund if you have no alternative means of getting to your destination.

If you do this, your airline no longer has any duty of care and does not have to get you home.

Only request a refund if you are happy for the airline to no longer have any responsibility for your travel options. – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel

How do I contact my airline?

You will likely be contacted by your airline directly if your flight has been affected by the air traffic control meltdown.

If you are already at the airport or on your way there, the best thing to do is speak to someone on the ground.

Phones will be ringing off the hook right now so the check in desk or your airline help desk is your best bet.

Anyone who is at home and has not been provided with a satisfactory alternative flight or the option to a refund should either call the airline via the customer services number or make contact via the live chat option on the website.

Some airlines, like British Airways, will allow you to rebook within their airline app.

If the changes are complicated, however, phone or in-person is best.  – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

What if I have a holiday package booked?

If you have a holiday package booked, you have more protection than flight-only bookings.

This is because they are ATOL protected, which means your money is safeguarded by a a UK financial protection scheme (often needed for when holiday companies go bust).

If your flight is cancelled, your tour operator must offer an alternative flight or replacement holiday.

If neither work you, then you must be given a full refund – Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Can I get compensation?

No. Airlines are only required to give you compensation if the delay or cancellation is the airline’s fault, as in a technical failure on a plane or issues with crew.

In this situation, where ATC is the reason for the chaos, there is unfortunately no compensation due.

Check your insurance policy to see if you have any redress if you have incurred additional costs like missing a concert or unable to pick up car hire. You may be able to claim for that.

Generally for delays, if an airline looks after you or provides you with food and drink or hotels, you cannot claim for the same costs against your travel insurance. – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel

How do you claim compensation?

If your flight has been cancelled strictly as a result of yesterday’s incident, you will not be entitled to compensation.

This is because the situation is deemed to be outside of the airline’s control and falls under the category of extraordinary circumstances.

Airlines do, however, still have a duty of care to their passengers and anyone experiencing delays of between two to four hours will be entitled to food and drinks vouchers.

These are usually handed out according to the distance you are flying.

For example if your trip is short haul then you are entitled to vouchers once the delay reaches two hours.

The delay must be at least three hours for mid haul or four hours for long haul.

If you are stranded and need to stay in a hotel, this also falls under duty of care and the airline should assist you in this.

As mentioned above, if you end up paying for anything yourself, you must keep receipts so that you can claim this back. – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

Am I covered by travel insurance?

This is strictly down to what your insurance policy says. It really depends on the level of policy you paid for, so it’s worth checking the small print.

You’ll need to be covered for things like delay, travel disruption, cancellations and missed connections.

If you went for the cheaper option when booking your policy, it’s likely there may be some holes in your cover.

Always make sure you take out travel insurance and check the details before signing on the dotted line – instances like this are why it’s worth protecting yourself. – Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)  

I missed an event can I get my money back?

It depends what you booked and how.

For a missed concert, theatre show or other event, check your travel insurance to see if it is covered because of the delay or cancellation – you may be able to claim.

The same applies for car hire or missed accommodation expenses but only if your travel insurance policy includes such disruption.

If you paid by credit card and the value is over £100 it may be worth calling your credit card provider and seeing if you can claim under Section 75 of the consumer credit act. – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel

What about if you’re supposed to be flying soon?

If you’re due to jet off in the coming days and have not yet been contacted by your airline, take this as a good sign.

The specific issue that resulted in yesterday’s chaos was fixed within four hours and many airports have said that they are operating as normal today.

Despite this quick fix, yesterday still saw over 1000 cancellations across UK airports which has had a dramatic knock on effect that could continue for days.

Keep a look out for any changes to your flight and act immediately if a cancellation arises.

If your flight is not cancelled, be warned that it could be busier than anticipated, with airlines struggling to find space for passengers who are trying to reach their destination after a cancellation.  – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

AN airport that was closed for almost three days after a volcanic eruption has finally reopened.

But hundreds of thousands of passengers are scrambling to get home with flights still being delayed or cancelled.

On Monday, Indonesia’s Transport Ministry reported on Monday that as many as 270,000 travellers were stranded with their flights “cancelled, delayed, or diverted” – including those at Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta International Airport which has since reopened.

Now it’s believed as many as 370,000 passengers are said to have been affected by the disruption across the last three days, with 3,000 flights cancelled.

It started on Friday when there was an eruption on Anak Krakatau.

An ash cloud drifted into the city of Jakarta and the Lampung province, halting flights at its airports with seven being forced to close.

ISLE BE GOING

Sun Travel’s favourite islands from Europe’s Caribbean to a £2 wine paradise

ALL IN

UK holiday parks where you can go ALL INCLUSIVE from £25pp with shows & waterparks

The biggest airport to close was Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta International which grounded flights from Sunday until early this morning.

The current FCDO advice reads: “Soekarno Hatta Airport and Halim Airport in Jakarta were temporarily closed due to the volcanic ash clouds from Mount Anak Krakatau on 5 September.

“Both airports have reopened, but there are continued flight disruptions and many flights are cancelled or delayed.”

For anyone due to travel, it advises to check with your airline or travel provider for up to date information on your flight status.

On Flightradar24, Soekarno Hatta Airport has had 9 per cent of its flights cancelled today with 20 per cent delayed.

Lots of travellers were told they wouldn’t be able to fly for a few more days, including a newlywed couple on a honeymoon in Bali.

Talking to Bernama, they asked: “What are we going to do here for another five days? We only prepared enough money for our honeymoon and [were supposed] to go home yesterday.

They continued: “We thought we would just sleep at the airport for a few hours and then take the morning flight home [on Monday]. We never thought we would end up being stuck here for days.”

Yesterday, another passenger told AFP how they had not heard any updates from the airline and were seeking out hotels only to find most of them have been fully booked.

Airlines like Qantas are offering anyone who booked to go to or from Jakarta before September 5 the chance for a free refund on travel up to September 11.

But its services are resuming as scheduled from today.

Indonesia’s Geological Agency has warned however that “the probability of further eruptions in the coming periods remains high”.

Flight compensation rules

A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.

You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.

So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.

But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.

When am I not entitled to compensation?

The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.

Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.

Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?

If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.

Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.

Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.

THERE is nothing worse than a delayed or cancelled flight – and one airline is now making passengers pay extra if they want help quicker.

Wizz Air has launched a new add-on called ‘Disruption Assistance’, which it claims is ‘added protection’.

According to the airline, passengers will “get extra support if your flight is disrupted on the day of travel”.

The new add-on means that travellers will get notifications for disruptions over two hours, for any reason including severe weather, issues at airports or even strikes.

Another part of the add-on is that you will get rebooked quickly when time matters, even if this means needing to travel with another airline.

You will also be able to request a full refund if the alternatives offered to you don’t work.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

ALL IN

I found the best value all inclusive London hotel… just £55pp with free food & booze

The final part of the add-on is that you will get “access [to] easy self-service tools or speak to an agent”.

You can add Disruption Assistance during the booking process or in Manage My Booking on the airline’s website or app.

In addition, if your flight is impacted on your day of travel, you will be sent an email to the Disruption Portal where you will be able to rebook via one of the options given or offered a refund.

According to EX-YU Aviation, the add-on costs between €9.90 (£8.51) and €14.90 (£12.80) per person.

Legally, the airline must rebook you under EU/UK Regulation 261/2004, if your flight is cancelled or delayed by more than five hours.

Airlines will usually try to rebook you on their own airline’s next available flight.

However, if they are unable to get you to your destination on the same day or next day, they must legally book you onto a rival airline and reimburse you.

Essentially, the Disruption Assistance add-on means you don’t have to battle with the airline’s customer service for a new flight or refund.

Flight compensation rules

A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.

You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.

So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.

But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.

When am I not entitled to compensation?

The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.

Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.

Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?

If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.

Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.

Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.

IF you need a loud announcement to tell you when it’s time to board, you might be in trouble at certain airports.

More silent airports are being introduced all over the globe – and these ones have no background noise, but it means you could potentially miss your flight.

Silent airports were first launched in 2015 to create a calmer, less stressful environment for travellers.

Essentially these are terminals that significantly reduces certain sounds like general boarding calls, final calls, and flight updates – or gets rid of them altogether.

Airports Council International (ACI) Angela Gittens previously told CNN Travel that silent airports are designed to “create a calm, relaxed ambiance.”

She added: “Passengers can wind down while they wait for their flight to board in the common airside lounges, commercial, and food and beverage areas.”

CHECK IN

Sunny European city breaks cheaper than a night out… £14 flights & £3 JUGS of wine

HOL YES

Cheap holiday destinations with 86p beers, £15 flights & £129pp package breaks

Instead of announcement over loud speakers, lots of airlines are opting for live updates when it comes to their flights on apps or text messages.

Any sort of changes are usually sent straight to the passenger.

But for anyone not paying attention, it could cause problems – and even mean missed flights.

If any passengers are running late, in a silent airport, they will not be called to board their flight.

It’s likely that any last-minute gate changes won’t be announced either.

The very first silent airport was Helsinki Airport in Finland and many others have since followed suit.

Currently only two airports in the UK are ‘silent’ – Bristol and London City.

Around the world, other silent airports include Riyadh Airport, Barcelona El Prat Airport, and Venice Marco Polo Airport in Italy.

Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey almost missed her flight at the airport at Amsterdam Schipol Airport in the Netherlands because there were no announcements.

Kara said: “Returning from Amsterdam Schipol Airport and having checked what gate I would be flying from, I headed straight there and sat down with my headphones on, waiting to board.”

Kara continued: “Yet I didn’t realise the gate had changed until I saw a group of people from the corner of my eye all get up and start running.

“It was only when I saw the women leaving the boarding gate desk that I asked and she told me the gate had moved to one on the other side of the airport.

“So while they can be “less stressful” – keep an eye on your flights.”

EVER fancied having a massive party on a plane and feeling like you’re on a private jet?

This September and in February next year you can head to an event on a Concorde plane.

Lost Track Of Time runs different nighttime events with DJ sets, across the UK.

The events in September and February will feature a DJ between the jet’s two engines, with stages under the wings of the aircraft.

The hangar will have immersive lighting and projections as well as dancers, 360 staging and house and disco music.

The Concorde was the world’s fastest passenger plane, capable of reaching speeds twice the speed of sound.

Read more on travel inspo

SEA IT

All 25 of the English Riviera beaches ranked from best to worst – by a Devon local

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

It also cruised at an altitude of 60,000ft, where passengers were even able to see the curvature of Earth.

Tickets to the event are currently sold out, but you can sign up to get notified of when the second phase of tickets will be dropped.

If you are looking for other cool events though, the same company is hosting a Halloween event at Wake The Tiger in Bristol.

There will be 53 rooms of interactive actors and cool sets to explore, created by the people behind Boomtown festival.

Aerospace Bristol is home to a number of different aircraft including the Concorde.

Called Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, it sits in its own hangar and is the last of the passenger jets to be built as well as the last to fly.

Visitors can catch three short films in the hangar which reveal the history of the aircraft.

And of course – for the main event – you can step onboard the jet.

There’s also an exhibition gallery with memorabilia including a pilot’s uniform.

Tickets cost £20 per adult and £13.50 per child.

A NEW premium economy seat is set to change the way you fly – with business class-like privacy screens.

Emirates has revealed its new seats, with premium usually only a small jump up from economy (often with more legroom and better food).

However, the designs show something much closer to a business class seat too.

Launching on the Airbus A350, they will be the first fully electrically powered premium economy seats.

This means with a flick of the button, you can choose from ‘lounge mode’ to ‘meal mode’.

Don’t worry about annoying the person behind you when you recline – each seat is built into a ‘cradle’ so it doesn’t affect them.

SIT UP

I flew on world’s best airline with business-like perks in premium & huge reclines

TAKE OFF

I flew on one of world’s oldest airlines – one way economy trumped business class

But the highlight is the privacy screen between seats, the first ever for premium economy seats.

The divider can be lowered if sitting with family or friends, or raised and locked into position.

The new seats will be laid out in a 2-3-2 layout, with 28 seats in the cabin.

Pitch will be up to 39 inches – compared to most having around 38 inches – as well as 50.8cm width.

Other perks include wireless charging – a first for premium economy – as well as USB-C chargers and phone holders.

The new premium seats are part of wider regeneration of the plane cabins.

Recently, the airline unveiled the new economy seats with built in adjustable headrests.

Called the U-Dream Headrest, it means you can ditch the travel pillow as the headrest pulls down to offer neck support.

There are also plans to launch the world’s first ever private bathrooms onboard, albeit only for first class passengers.

Here’s what it is like to fly business class with Emirates.

THE budget airline will axe two million seats across its 2026 winter schedule.

Ryanair cited high jet fuel costs as the reason for the reduction – and it has warned of rising prices too.

The airline announced that it has cut estimates for the expected number of passengers it will carry between April 2026 and March 2027.

The number has dropped from 216 million to 214 million.

In a statement, the airline explained that it was “sensible to strategically reduce the group’s exposure to unhedged jet fuel during the unprofitable winter schedule.”

It continued: “Subject to pricing and passenger demand, Ryanair expects this one-off winter schedule cut to reduce [November 2026 – March 2027 losses] by €70 million to €100 million (£85.8million).”

ALL IN

UK holiday parks where you can go ALL INCLUSIVE from £25pp with shows & waterparks

RETRO RATES

Our fave childhood holidays that have stayed ridiculously CHEAP – from £9.50pp

It won’t be the first time Ryanair has cut flights.

As a result of rising air tax, budget-friendly Ryanair has cut a huge amount of routes over the last year.

Lots of the axed routes affected Spain with flights to Vigo, Valladolid, Jerez and Tenerife (North) stopped.

Other places that lost connections through Ryanair were to the Azores in Portugal and Thessaloniki in Greece where the airline closed its base.

At the same time, the airline announced it would be scrapping off-season flights to Chania and Heraklion in Crete and will reduce its Athens services too.

All of this will result in 700,000 fewer seats on sale this winter.

In 2025, France lost 25 routes and some 750,000 seats last winter from and completely stopped services completely to Strasbourg and Brive.

In Brussels, Ryanair has axed 20 routes and cut one million seats across Brussels-Zaventem and Brussels South Charleroi airports.

The budget airline also warned that the prices of tickets could rise next year.

Conflict in Iran has caused jet fuel costs to climb due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and it will continue to affect holiday prices.

In a statement, Ryanair said: “If high oil prices continue through to S.27 (summer 2027), Ryanair believes short-haul airfares in Europe will increase materially to reflect higher oil prices as some less well-hedged competitors will struggle to maintain capacity or even survive this coming winter season.”

Ryanair said it currently hedges fuel (which means it pays a set price).

The airline added that 80 per cent of its jet fuel is hedged through March 2027 at about $67 (£50) a barrel.

The price of jet fuel is around $140 (£103) a barrel.

ANY Brits planning a bucket list holiday to Japan will be able to explore more of the city thanks to one airline offering free flights.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) is offering domestic flights at no extra cost between December 2026 and February 2027.

Free domestic travel is part of a campaign with the tourism board to encourage travel across the country.

It was first brought about last year and after its success, is doing so again.

Called the ‘Stopover & Add-on Free Fare’ – the ticket offers free domestic flights between December 1 and February 28, 2027.

Bookings need to be made between 1-30 September 2026 and Brits can add up to two ANA domestic flights at no additional cost.

ALL IN

UK holiday parks where you can go ALL INCLUSIVE from £25pp with shows & waterparks

RETRO RATES

Our fave childhood holidays that have stayed ridiculously CHEAP – from £9.50pp

You do have to book it at the same time as international flights though, and the offer applies to all cabins.

ANA’s domestic network covers more than 40 destinations – so there’s plenty to choose from.

Most Brits will fly into Tokyo (Haneda) – from there you could explore the likes of Okinawa which consists of tiny islands with tropical beaches.

Another is Fukuoka, a city the island of Kyushu which is famous for its seafront location and food with specialities like Hakata Ramen and Mentaiko.

If you’re looking for some snow, head to Sapporo which is Hokkaido’s capital and one of the world’s snowiest cities.

You could even stop by the Sapporo Snow Festival which is being held between February 4-11 next year.

AN airport in the UK has been forced to close AGAIN just days after strike action resulted in cancelled flights.

Strikes have been ongoing throughout the last few weeks causing some passengers to be rerouted by over 100 miles.

And Norwich Airport will close again for three parts of today with flights already cancelled and delayed.

The air traffic closures are from 6am to 2pm, then 4pm to 4.45pm, and finally from 6.45pm to 7.30pm.

Three KLM flights have been cancelled so far, two of which were departing Norwich Airport this morning.

The 9am KLM flight from Amsterdam to Norwich has also been cancelled.

ALL IN

UK holiday parks where you can go ALL INCLUSIVE from £25pp with shows & waterparks

RETRO RATES

Our fave childhood holidays that have stayed ridiculously CHEAP – from £9.50pp

However the 2.05pm flight is currently delayed to depart at 2.45pm.

Another flight set to depart Norwich at 5pm for Amsterdam remains on the schedule.

The TUI flight to Rhodes is set to leave at 2.05pm, rather than its scheduled time of 12:35pm.

On the website, it reads: “Due to Air Traffic Control staff sickness and ongoing industrial action which limits the flexibility to provide additional staff cover, Norwich Airport will be closed to air traffic on Thursday 3 September during the following periods: 0600 to 1400, 1600 to 1645  and 1845 to 1945.

“Airlines have been informed of the closures. Passengers should check with their airline for the latest information about their flight before travelling to the airport.

“We apologise to passengers for the inconvenience this may cause.”

Last month, Norwich Airport was forced to close for an entire day and suspend all of its flights.

The 24-hour-strike was held by Prospect union as part of an ongoing dispute over pay, terms and conditions.

Some passengers were forced to divert their journey by 101 miles as they departed from Southend Airport in Essex rather than Norwich.

ONE woman was left in Turkey for almost a week with her family when her flight home with easyJet was cancelled last minute.

Macy Neve Flye was due to fly home from Dalaman in Turkey to Bristol with easyJet but was left “stranded” with her family after a technical problem with the aircraft.

The date of the original flight was August 22 , due to take off at 11:25pm.

But by the time it hit 12:30am, passengers were told to check their emails, to which they found out their flight home had been cancelled.

To maker matters worse, the return flights home were almost a week later due to the busy summer season.

Macy and her family were been split between two replacement flights departing on August 27 and August 28.

ALL IN

UK holiday parks where you can go ALL INCLUSIVE from £25pp with shows & waterparks

RETRO RATES

Our fave childhood holidays that have stayed ridiculously CHEAP – from £9.50pp

Talking to creatorzine.com, Macy said: “Being stranded has been nothing but stress, anger and confusion.”

She was travelling with her boyfriend and three members of his family, including a five-year-old who were all later transferred to a different hotel.

This was due to the original hotel not having enough space for all 150 passengers affected.

On the ordeal, Macy said: “‘As you can imagine, it has just been awful and stressful. We had budgeted for a two-week holiday.

“This experience has made us not want to fly with them again.”

The family have been advised to keep receipts so they can claim back additional expenses incurred during the disruption.

easyJet confirmed the flight was cancelled after the aircraft experienced a technical problem.

They also said it arranged hotel accommodation and meals, and would reimburse the family for expenses.

It said alternative flights with other airlines and indirect routes were extremely limited because of the busy summer travel period.

Some members of the family were therefore given seats on a flight on August 27, with the remainder booked to travel the following day.

An easyJet spokesperson said: “We are very sorry that Ms Flye and her family’s flight from Dalaman to Bristol was unable to operate due to the aircraft experiencing a technical issue.

“The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is our highest priority and we have been doing all we can to support the family, including providing hotel accommodation and meals.

“Alternative flight options including with other airlines are very limited at this busy time of year and so while we have transferred the family onto the next available flights this week, we are sorry for the difficulty caused by the delay returning home.

“We are in touch with the family to apologise for their experience and reimburse them for any expenses incurred.”

RYANAIR warns the price of jet fuel could soar next summer – meaning the cost of flights could too.

The airline has warned that other competitor airlines could struggle to ‘survive’.

Conflict in Iran has caused jet fuel costs to climb due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and it will continue to affect holiday prices.

In a statement, Ryanair said: “If high oil prices continue through to S.27 (summer 2027), Ryanair believes short-haul airfares in Europe will increase materially to reflect higher oil prices as some less well-hedged competitors will struggle to maintain capacity or even survive this coming winter season.”

Ryanair said it currently hedges fuel (which means it pays a set price).

The airline added that 80 per cent of its jet fuel is hedged through March 2027 at about $67 (£50) a barrel.

ALL IN

UK holiday parks where you can go ALL INCLUSIVE from £25pp with shows & waterparks

RETRO RATES

Our fave childhood holidays that have stayed ridiculously CHEAP – from £9.50pp

Currently the price of jet fuel is around $140 (£103) a barrel.

Ryanair isn’t the only airline to warn of higher costs on the horizon, easyJet has said the same.

Talking to The Times earlier this year, easyJet said it would increase minimum ticket prices of its winter 2026-27 flights “by two to three pounds” to offset higher costs and uncertainty around customer demand.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby also said he expects fares to keep rising into the first half of next year.

According to Reuters he said: “I think you’re going to still see gradual increases in fares. Not as big a jump as happened this year.”

When it comes to finding the cheapest flights right now – it’s best to use a comparison site.

Skyscanner is a great option for comparing the price of flights with various airlines – and it even have a price drop tool.

The feature claims to scour up to 80 billion prices a day and shows which destinations have seen flights that have dropped 20 per cent compared to the last week.

Google Flights is another search engine which compares flight prices and shows multiple airline options.

If you choose the ‘explore’ option, it can show the cheapest, direct flights across the world.

For even more hacks on when to fly, Expedia has put together a handy list on the cheapest days to fly – which is Friday.

Compared to travelling on a Saturday, jetting off the day before can save up to 18 per cent.

It also found that found that international travellers can save £93 on average by booking between 15 and 30 days ahead, instead of six months.

Where you fly from also makes a difference – some of the most expensive UK airports to fly from are London Heathrow, Humberside and Manchester..

For more hacks, head here.

AN AIRLINE has cancelled all of flights from a popular UK airport until further notice.

IndiGo has now stopped its flights from Manchester Airport to Delhi and Mumbai.

The suspension, originally announced back in June, is due to rising costs and airspace restrictions.

But from yesterday (August 31), the airline is “temporarily discontinuing” the flights, citing closed airspaces and higher costs.

There is currently no date of when the flights could return.

One of the six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft used for the route will be returned to Norse Atlantic Airways.

Read more on travel inspo

GO ON

All the little-known websites for cheap or FREE tickets to gigs, theatre & festivals

SEA IT

All 25 of the English Riviera beaches ranked from best to worst – by a Devon local

IndiGo introduced its first direct flights from Manchester in July last year, with a non-stop route to Mumbai.

In November, the airline then introduced the route to Delhi.

At peak, the two routes would operate nine times a week.

With the removal of flights from Manchester, if you want to fly with IndiGo, you will now need to go to either London Heathrow or London Gatwick.

Abhijit Dasgupta, Senior Vice President – Network Planning & Revenue Management, IndiGo, said: “We inducted these wide-body aircraft on a short-term basis to fast-track our connectivity to high potential long-haul destinations such as Manchester, and witnessed very encouraging demand response.

“It is, therefore, unfortunate that longer flying times due to airspace constraints, coupled with dramatically escalating cost, has compelled us to take the decision to temporarily discontinue our India – Manchester services.

“We would like to thank our customers, trade partners in India and in the UK, and Manchester Airport for their amazing support.

“The response and support for these services have reinforced our belief in the opportunity for IndiGo’s long-haul ambitions, and this discontinuation is temporary in nature.

“We look forward to serving this route again at the earliest viable opportunity and are exploring innovative solutions to continuing our collaboration with Norse Atlantic Airways.”

MORE travel chaos could be on the horizon for Brits as a change to the new Entry/Exit System (EES) is being introduced in a matter of days.

EES has already resulted in huge delays at airports, missed flights and these could get worse in a few weeks’ time.

Currently, EU member states are allowed to pause EES checks in “exceptional circumstances”, which includes when queues get too long.

But from September 7, EU states will no longer be able to temporarily switch off the system at their airports.

Over the summer when the number of holidaymakers increased, countries were able to switch the system off for up to six hours.

With an influx of passengers, some countries that made use of this over the summer included France, Portugal and Greece.

RETRO RATES

Our fave childhood holidays that have stayed ridiculously CHEAP – from £9.50pp

CHECK IN

Sunny European city breaks cheaper than a night out… £14 flights & £3 JUGS of wine

At some airports, the machines had to be shut down and turned on again when they get overwhelmed, just to get them to work.

Air France-KLM told Politico: “When lines form during the busy summer  months, the system is shut off to ensure smooth transit at our hubs in Paris and Amsterdam.”

However, from September 7, EES will be fully enforced with no exceptions.

EES was first introduced in April and requires Brits to register biometrics upon any first entry to a Schengen country.

However, this registration process has been causing long queues and delays at border control across European airports.

Some Brits reported waiting for up to six hours in airports and others even missed their flight.

There have been some other issues as well including one woman who is an identical twin and faced a problem when she was mistaken for her sister.

And older passengers have faced a problem with ‘faded fingerprints’.

EVER wanted to head to a music festival abroad? Well, how about heading to the world’s biggest where most concerts are free?

Found in the capital of Morocco – Rabat – Mawazine isn’t your usual festival.

Instead of lasting the normal three-days, Mawazine goes on for nine days in total.

The festival takes place each June and its attendance always breaks records with 3.75million people visiting in 2025 – making it the largest music festival in the world by attendance.

As for whats on at the festival, around 90 per cent of the concerts are free to attend.

You can expect Moroccan and Arab artists as well as global headliners.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

SO FLY

Our fave beach hols under 5 hours from UK with Caribbean dupes & £2 bottles of wine

There are a seven stages in total including OLM Souissi, which is the main stage where international stars such as Rihanna, Beyoncé, Shakira, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake and Maroon 5 have all performed.

You could then go to the Nahda Stage, which is dedicated to Arabic and Oriental music.

And over at Chellah, you’ll find a historic Roman site used for calm with acoustic music.

The festival isn’t just music either – you can expect art exhibitions, workshops and film screenings.

If you want to head to the festival, make sure to book your hotel well ahead.

The city of Rabat is transformed for the nine days as well, with cafes and shops open later.

The city is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site meaning there is plenty to explore including a huge medina, Hassan Tower and Kasbah of the Oudayas – a historic fortress with sea views.

Return flights from the UK to Rabat cost as little as £125 in June.

A EUROPEAN airline you’ve probably never heard of is launching its first flights from the UK.

Discover Airlines is set to launch flights from the UK to two German cities in summer 2027.

The flights include routes between Bristol and Frankfurt; Glasgow and Frankfurt; Glasgow and Munich and Inverness and Frankfurt.

The route between Glasgow and Frankfurt will take off from March 29, 2027 and will take place six times a week.

Then the Glasgow to Munich route will begin on May 16, 2027, and fly two times a week.

The Bristol to Frankfurt route will begin on May 17, 2027, and take place twice a week.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

SEA IT

All 25 of the English Riviera beaches ranked from best to worst – by a Devon local

And finally, the Inverness to Frankfurt route will start on June 19, 2027, and will have one flight a week.

Discover Airlines is part of the Lufthansa Group and it will become the only airline to offer non-stop flights from Frankfurt to Inverness, Bristol and Glasgow.

The Munich to Glasgow route will take over the route which was previously operated by Lufthansa.

Marco Götz, Chief Commercial Officer of Discover Airlines: “We’re always on the lookout for attractive destinations to offer travelers even more choice and, above all, new travel experiences.

“We see a clear trend toward nature, outdoor activities, and trips that combine culture and scenery – our three new destinations fit this trend perfectly.

“They open up a wide variety of ways to discover Great Britain.

“We are all the more pleased that our guests will be able to reach these destinations this summer more easily than ever via our two hubs in Frankfurt and Munich.”

A COUPLE due to travel to Greece were denied boarding over a simple passport mistake and lost out on £500.

And now the couple is warning other travellers about the common mistake.

Celia Jenkins, 78, and her husband Rees, 82, were meant to fly from Bristol Airport to Kefalonia, Greece, for a six-month stay at their house on a Greek island, but were unable to board their flight.

They were caught out by a rule that means UK passport holders are now seen as ‘third-country nationals’ by the EU, meaning they must follow strict entry rules where their passport is less than 10 years old, regardless of when their document expires.

Jet2 staff told the couple that their passports were 10 years and three days old, meaning their passports were past the limit.

According to The Independent, Celia said: “We were escorted out through border security because technically we had no passports suddenly. We felt like criminals.”

Read more on travel inspo

GET A ROOM

13 London hotels we love for UNDER £100- all-inclusives & bargain suites

SEA IT

All 25 of the English Riviera beaches ranked from best to worst – by a Devon local

She explained that while the couple missed the fact their passports were no longer valid, they feel like the Government and airlines have not made the rules clear.

She added: “We weren’t informed clearly enough by anybody at any time.

“We didn’t get it because we saw the expiry date rather than the date of issue as being a problem.”

The couple had paid for an airport hotel as well as the flights, meaning they spent and lost around £500.

The couple has since applied to renew their passports but believe they will no longer be able to meet up with their family in Greece.

The 10-year passport rule was actually introduced for UK citizens back in 2021, however many people still get caught out by it.

UK passports must not be issued more than 10 years before the date of entry into the EU and there must be at least three months remaining on the intended day of departure from the EU.

At least three months remaining on the intended day of departure from the EU.

This means that if you returned from a holiday today and have exactly three months left on your passport, but want to travel again next month – you would need to get a new passport.

Getting a new UK passport usually takes around three weeks through the HM Passport Office.

However, the Government advises that Brits apply at least 10 weeks before travelling, especially during busy periods.

A UK airport has been forced to close today as staff walk out with ALL flights suspended.

Norwich Airport is closed today following the strike action.

Flights cancelled today include three arrivals from Amsterdam and an arrival from Alicante.

As for departures, four flights to Amsterdam have been cancelled and one flight to Alicante has as well.

Airlines impacted by the strike action include Ryanair and KLM.

The strike was announced earlier this week, which has resulted in the flight suspension until the end of the day.

Read more on travel inspo

GO ON

All the little-known websites for cheap or FREE tickets to gigs, theatre & festivals

TRAVEL TIP

The £2.99 SIM hack that can save Brits HUNDREDS abroad

It comes as Prospect union announced the strike as part of an ongoing dispute over pay, terms and conditions.

In a statement on the airport’s website, it says: “Due to the 24-hour strike by Prospect union members in Air Traffic Control, Norwich Airport will be closed to air traffic on Friday 28 August and no flights will operate to or from the airport that day.

“Airlines have been informed. Passengers due to travel on Friday should check with their airline for the latest information about their flight and the options available to them.

“We apologise for the disruption and inconvenience this will cause to passengers.

“We remain firmly committed to resolving this dispute through constructive dialogue and will continue to engage with Prospect with the aim of reaching agreement.”

The airport operates to a number of destinations abroad, such as Spain and the Netherlands.

Yesterday, local travel agents told holidaymakers that they would need to travel 101 miles to catch their flights.

They would instead be departing from Southend Airport in Essex with passengers told to head to Norwich Airport, where they would then be taken on a coach to Southend.

A UK airport will be forced to fully close tomorrow due to strike action, resulting in all flights being suspended.

Norwich Airport will close all day on August 28 due to an air traffic control strike.

As a result, all flights have been cancelled.

The airport operates to a number of European destinations including Faro, Malta, Alicante and Amsterdam.

And the strike action is forcing holidaymakers to travel 101 miles to catch their flights.

Local travel agents have said that anyone due to travel from the airport tomorrow will now depart from Southend Airport in Essex.

Read more on travel inspo

GO ON

All the little-known websites for cheap or FREE tickets to gigs, theatre & festivals

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

Passengers have been told to head to Norwich Airport, where they will then be taken on a coach to Southend.

Strike action comes as Prospect union continues an ongoing dispute over pay, terms and conditions.

Strike action started last Monday after the airport failed to make an offer to resolve the dispute, with several cancellations on Friday including Loganair flights to and from Aberdeen.

In a statement on the airport’s website, it says: “Due to the 24-hour strike by Prospect union members in Air Traffic Control, Norwich Airport will be closed to air traffic on Friday 28 August and no flights will operate to or from the airport that day.

“Airlines have been informed.

“Passengers due to travel on Friday should check with their airline for the latest information about their flight and the options available to them.

“We apologise for the disruption and inconvenience this will cause to passengers.

“We remain firmly committed to resolving this dispute through constructive dialogue and will continue to engage with Prospect with the aim of reaching agreement.”