Holiday travel snarled by US storms and European strikes

Holiday travel disruptions unfolded on multiple continents this season as extreme weather in the United States and coordinated industrial action across Europe collided with peak passenger demand. Travelers faced canceled flights, halted trains, road restrictions and long rebooking lines at major hubs over the Christmas and early‑December period.

From winter storm Devin that swept the Midwest into the Northeast to an atmospheric river battering the West Coast, and from Portugal and Italy’s national strikes to local disputes at London Luton, the combined effect was a global holiday ache for millions. Airlines and operators scrambled to adjust schedules and offer waivers while authorities imposed emergency measures to protect people and infrastructure.

Storm Devin: U.S. air travel disrupted

On Dec. 26, 2025, winter storm Devin struck at the height of holiday travel, prompting state‑of‑emergency declarations in New York and New Jersey and a wave of cancellations and delays across the country. FlightAware totals cited by news outlets showed roughly 1,802 U.S. flights canceled and 22,349 delayed during the storm’s peak disruption window, overwhelming airline operations and airport surfaces in the New York area.

Airlines reported concentrated impacts: JetBlue said it had canceled “approximately 350 flights” across two days primarily in the Northeast; Delta reported about 212 cancellations, Republic Airways 157, American 146 and United 97. More than half of the cancellations on Dec. 26 were linked to the New York metropolitan airports , JFK, Newark and LaGuardia , where heavy snow, high winds and logistical challenges compounded delays.

State and local officials moved to keep roads open for emergency and clearing crews, and some states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, imposed commercial vehicle restrictions on key highways. Those measures helped crews respond, but they also complicated holiday road trips and freight movements as the storm moved eastward.

West Coast atmospheric river and Southern California risks

At the same time as Devin impacted the Northeast, an atmospheric‑river storm drenched portions of the U.S. West Coast, producing record‑wet conditions in places over the Christmas period. Authorities warned of flash flooding and mudslide risk, and emergency teams conducted rescues in affected communities where rivers and urban runoff overwhelmed infrastructure.

Flooding and debris on roads forced local closures and slowed airport access in parts of California, creating a second, geographically separate wave of travel disruption. The dual nature of the holiday weather events , snow and ice in the interior and an atmospheric river on the coast , stretched national airline and ground operator resources across multiple fronts.

For passengers, the combination meant not only canceled flights but also disrupted ground connections and longer waits for assistance, as crews prioritized safety and airport teams processed higher than normal volumes of rebookings and refunds.

European strikes: nationwide and cross‑border effects

Europe faced its own travel disruptions in December from coordinated industrial action. A wave of strikes and short windows of action across France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Belgium and other countries reduced high‑speed and regional rail services, curtailed urban transit and forced airports and airlines to preemptively thin schedules during peak travel days.

Portugal’s nationwide general strike on Dec. 11 grounded large parts of the transport network: trains were largely halted, some metros were reduced or closed, schools and many services suspended, and hundreds of flights were canceled. TAP Air Portugal said it would operate a skeleton network , roughly one‑third of its roughly 260 daily flights , leaving many travelers scrambling for alternatives.

Italy experienced a major CGIL‑led national strike on Dec. 12 that forced widespread cancellations and reduced rail and local services. CGIL chief Maurizio Landini said, “The majority of the workers who keep this country going don’t agree with and don’t accept this government’s budget,” underscoring the political context behind the disruptions and the high turnout reported in marches and workplace actions.

Local disputes and airport operations , the Luton example

Not all European disruption came from national strikes. At London Luton, a baggage‑handling dispute involving DHL‑employed check‑in and baggage staff threatened easyJet operations in mid‑to‑late December. Unite said about 200 staff planned walkouts on specific dates (19, 22, 26 and 29 Dec) and estimated that up to around 410 easyJet flights could be affected during strike windows.

After talks produced an “improved offer,” Unite suspended the Boxing Day action, reducing the immediate risk on Dec. 26 and 28. Still, the looming walkouts earlier in the month had already led carriers and airports to flag at‑risk rotations, warn passengers and set contingency plans for delayed and disrupted short‑haul services from Luton.

These localized disputes had outsized ripple effects: Luton is a key base for short‑haul leisure traffic, and any sustained baggage‑handling outage can quickly cascade into missed connections across low‑cost carrier networks, adding to rebooking pressure on ground staff and call centers.

Airline responses, waivers and passenger support

Airlines and airports implemented a variety of operational responses to manage the twin problems of weather and strikes. Several carriers publicly waived change and rebooking fees for travelers impacted by Devin or by European industrial action, giving passengers flexibility to alter plans without penalty as they sought alternatives.

Carriers urged passengers to monitor status boards, contact their airline directly, and expect longer processing times where ground staff or public transport access was limited. Airports and operators also increased passenger communications, posted minimum service advisories on strike days and coordinated with governments to prioritize essential connectivity where possible.

Despite these measures, rebooking queues at major hubs , including Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Rome, Milan, Paris and London Luton , were reported as crowded, and some long‑haul connections via Lisbon were cut or rerouted through Madrid or Paris for certain itineraries, illustrating how a single strike or weather event can alter routing for passengers across continents.

Passenger experiences, numbers and practical advice

Aggregated reporting estimated that millions of travelers were affected by the combination of winter storms in the U.S. and staggered strikes in Europe. U.S. storm warnings covered tens of millions of people while Europe’s industrial action produced cascading cancellations, missed connections and long waits at help desks during the holiday window.

Practical examples highlighted the mix of problems: short‑haul easyJet rotations from Luton flagged as at‑risk during baggage‑handler walkouts, major carriers trimming schedules at Portuguese airports on Dec. 11, and New York area airports accounting for a large share of U.S. cancellations on Dec. 26. For passengers, the common advice was consistent: check with carriers, arrive early when travel is necessary, and have flexible plans.

Those still traveling were advised to download airline apps for real‑time alerts, sign up for text notifications, keep essentials in carry‑on luggage, and be prepared for alternate routings. Authorities also recommended heeding local travel advisories, especially when road restrictions or states of emergency were in force, to avoid putting emergency responders at risk.

Holiday travel disruptions underscored how systemic shocks , whether meteorological or industrial , can intersect to create complex, cross‑border consequences for passengers, freight and local economies. The season’s events stressed the value of contingency planning by both travelers and operators.

As authorities and unions weigh next steps, and as carriers refine their operational playbooks for future winter and strike scenarios, the clear takeaway for travelers is to stay informed, be flexible and expect that even well‑planned trips may face interruption. For many, patience and preparation were the best defenses against a volatile travel period.