Five-hour border queues at Brussels Airport as EES problems return
Non-EU passengers, including British travellers, waited up to five hours at passport control last week after technical faults with the EU's biometric Entry/Exit System, the airport has confirmed.
easyJet cabin crew in Portugal to strike from Friday, with 500 flights at risk
Cabin crew at easyJet's Lisbon, Porto and Faro bases plan to walk out from 2 to 6 October, and again from 19 to 23 December, in a dispute over pay and conditions.
Scammers list a Houses of Parliament building as a holiday flat on Booking.com
A Which? investigation found hijacked Booking.com listings using the addresses of Portcullis House and a London pub, with victims asked for bank details and some left stranded.
Passports now required on Holyhead-Dublin and Fishguard-Rosslare ferry crossings
From today, ferry passengers between Britain and the Republic of Ireland on key Welsh routes must show a valid passport, with other photo ID no longer accepted at check-in.
Bangkok declares flood disaster in all 50 districts after two days of rain
Almost 300mm of rain since Thursday has left Bangkok's canals full and roads submerged. The city governor has urged people to stay home, and draining the water could take days.
Hurricane Polo regains Category 5 strength as it heads towards Baja California
One of the strongest Eastern Pacific hurricanes on record is expected to approach Baja California Sur on Monday, with dangerous surf and rip currents forecast along Mexico's Pacific coast this weekend.
easyJet says free EU cabin bag rule won't apply to flights leaving the UK
New EU rules due in 2027 will entitle passengers to a free cabin bag, but easyJet has told Which? that the extra allowance will only apply on return flights from the EU.
Icelandair strike collapses within hours as government forces return to work
Icelandair cancelled dozens of flights when aircraft mechanics walked out in a pay dispute on 23 September, but the strike ended within hours after ministers moved to pass emergency back-to-work legislation.
Wrapping your passport in foil won't stop 'hackers', security experts say
A viral trend of wrapping passports in tinfoil to block chip 'hackers' has spread on TikTok and Reddit, but security experts say modern e-passport chips, including UK ones, are far harder to skim than feared.
Second NATS air traffic failure in two weeks disrupts flights across northern UK
A connectivity fault at NATS' Prestwick control centre grounded and delayed flights across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England on Monday, the second major air traffic failure inside a fortnight.
British Airways confirms Dubai flights to resume in November after seven-month gap
British Airways will resume London-Dubai flights on 3 November after a seven-month suspension caused by Middle East tensions, but its Abu Dhabi route stays grounded until winter 2027-28.
West Nile virus spreads further across France as cases pass 90
France has confirmed 92 locally acquired West Nile virus cases so far in 2026, with the virus now detected in new regions far beyond its usual southern hotspots for the first time.
Mount Etna eruption forces repeated closures at Catania airport
Volcanic ash from Mount Etna has shut Sicily's Catania airport for a second day running, with Italy's highest aviation alert issued and flights diverted to Palermo. British holidaymakers should check flight status before travelling.
Ferry passengers to Ireland must show passports from 28 September
From 28 September, Stena Line and Irish Ferries will require every passenger on Holyhead-Dublin and Fishguard/Rosslare-Pembroke routes to show a passport, regardless of age or nationality, under new UK Border Force rules.
Dutch health minister urges mosquito nets after West Nile virus deaths
Dutch health minister Sophie Hermans is advising people to sleep under mosquito nets after West Nile virus killed three people and infected 18 in the Netherlands, a country that had no cases in 2025.
World's largest-ever Ebola outbreak in DR Congo spreads to France
The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo is now the country's largest recorded, with over 6,750 cases. A single imported case has been confirmed in France, WHO says.
Thailand halves visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days from 15 September
From 15 September, British travellers to Thailand get 30 days visa-free instead of 60. The change replaces the temporary 60-day exemption with new rules published in Thailand's Royal Gazette.
Bristol tour operator Wayfairer Travel collapses, ABTOT issues 'do not travel' notice
Bristol luxury operator Wayfairer Travel has suspended all services and is appointing an administrator. ABTOT has issued a 'do not travel' notice for bookings before 30 September and set out how customers can claim refunds.
NATS technical fault grounds flights and triggers UK airport chaos
A technical fault at UK air traffic control provider NATS grounded and delayed hundreds of flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and other airports on 8 September, with knock-on disruption continuing into Wednesday.
EU ends border queue flexibility as stricter EES checks take effect
The European Union ended emergency flexibility for its Entry/Exit System on 6 September. UK travellers to Schengen countries must now complete full biometric registration, with no exceptions during queues.
Rome airports face 24-hour security strike on September 13
ADR Security staff at Rome Fiumicino and Ciampino airports are walking out for 24 hours on September 13 over shift patterns. Longer security queues likely for UK travellers connecting through the hub.
EasyJet pilots in France announce strike for September 13-14
EasyJet pilots in France have called a strike for 13 and 14 September, citing unstable scheduling. The strike follows cabin crew action in August and could affect hundreds of UK-France flights.
France records first locally acquired dengue cases; mosquito risk spreads
Five locally acquired dengue cases confirmed across southern France in late August, transmitted by Asian tiger mosquitoes now established in 83 departments nationwide.
Madrid airport baggage strike triggers weekend delays; disruptions through September
Maintenance workers at Madrid-Barajas are striking through September over staffing and conditions. Partial strikes hit the SATE automated baggage system this weekend and Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays through month end.
Barcelona airport ground strike hits 150 flights; baggage disruptions continue
Groundforce staff at Barcelona El Prat are on indefinite strike since 4 August, causing over 150 flight cancellations and severe baggage delays. Up to 2 million passengers may be affected through September.
Mediterranean records hottest summer on record; heat stroke warning for UK travellers
Spain's 2026 summer is the warmest on record. Sea temperatures hit 91.4°F (record level). Extreme heat warnings across France, Italy, Spain and Portugal pose serious risks to sun-seeking holidaymakers.
Dengue epidemic declared in Philippines tourist hub Zamboanga City
Zamboanga City has declared a dengue epidemic with 1,609 confirmed cases and 12 deaths. Cases are 55 per cent higher than 2025 levels, with 81 per cent of those affected under 21 years old.
Norway air traffic strike shuts Oslo Airport, cancels 147 flights, disruptions through Monday
Norwegian air traffic controllers are striking over pay and working conditions. Oslo Airport Gardermoen closed for five hours today; 147 flights cancelled so far. Major disruptions expected through Monday.
AI-driven travel scams surge 900%: how to spot and avoid five common cons
Travel scams have surged 900% in 18 months, largely driven by AI voice-cloning and fake booking pages. Nearly 30% of UK adults report being victims. Post Office warns of five common holiday cons.
Norwich Airport shuts for five hours as air traffic controllers strike over pay
Norwich International Airport closed to air traffic from 08:00 to 13:00 on August 21 due to industrial action by Prospect-represented air traffic controllers protesting pay and parental leave conditions.
Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways face Spanish ground staff strikes this weekend
Baggage handlers striking August 15-17 at Ryanair bases; Menzies workers striking mid-August affecting British Airways and easyJet. Expect delays and cancellations across Spanish airports.
EasyJet and SNCF strikes disrupt France travel over August 15 weekend
EasyJet cabin crew striking August 15-16; SNCF affecting Paris-Normandy routes. Saturday is France's busiest road day. Cancellations and delays expected across flights, trains and roads.
West Nile virus cases triple in Greece; six deaths all over 65 years old
Greece reports 65 locally acquired West Nile cases as of August 5, up from 21 two weeks earlier. All six deaths involve patients over 65. Peak transmission weeks remain ahead.
Ski platform Yodl ceases trading; customers face independent refund pursuit
Ski Yodl Ltd has entered voluntary liquidation with no ABTA protection for forward bookings. Customers who paid by card should contact their issuer; bank transfer payers must claim via the liquidator.
UK passport trap: 10-year issuance rule bars travellers from Schengen entry
Jet2, TUI, and easyJet warn that passports valid by expiry date alone may fail Schengen entry if issued over 10 years ago. Denied boarding does not qualify for EU261 compensation.
France confirms first native dengue cases; tiger mosquitoes spreading in Occitanie
France reports its first locally acquired dengue cases of 2026 in Carmaux and Sète, both in Occitanie. The virus is spread by tiger mosquitoes now established throughout the country.
ATC staffing crisis disrupts 2,400+ European flights; backlog from July technical failure persists
Air traffic control shortages and a lingering system failure at EUROCONTROL have disrupted over 2,400 flights across Europe, affecting UK travellers connecting through Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Madrid.
WestJet strike disrupts 250,000 passengers; tentative deal reached on pay
Canada's WestJet cabin crew struck for just 30 hours over payment for boarding time, affecting quarter-million travellers and nearly 500 flights before union and airline agreed terms on August 3.
West Nile virus cases surge in Greece, Italy and Spain as mosquito season peaks
The WHO warns of rising West Nile virus transmission across Europe, with Greece reporting 21 cases and Italy 17 separate clusters, as summer travel season peaks.
Indefinite strikes to hit Barcelona and Palma airports from Tuesday
Ground handling staff at Barcelona and Palma airports begin indefinite strikes on Tuesday, with Spain's transport ministry warning up to two million passengers could be affected through September.
Wildfire kills three firefighters and forces 8,000 to flee southern Crete
A wildfire in southern Crete has killed three firefighters and forced around 8,000 residents and holidaymakers to evacuate, though the island's main airports and northern resorts remain unaffected.
Saudi Arabia opens electronic travel authorisation to all UK passport holders
British travellers can now visit Saudi Arabia on an electronic travel authorisation, allowing multiple entries and up to 180 days a year for tourism, business or short-term study.
Riot police fire rubber bullets as Palma anti-tourism march turns violent
Tens of thousands marched through Palma against mass tourism before clashes with National Police left eight people injured, with some tourists caught up in the disorder.
Death toll rises after magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes Japan's Kumamoto region
At least 23 people have died after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Kumamoto on the Japanese island of Kyushu, with thousands still sheltering in evacuation centres two days on.
Wildfire on Paros forces evacuations as Greece battles summer blazes
A wildfire on the Greek island of Paros has forced emergency evacuations of several settlements as authorities battle spreading flames during Greece's heightened summer wildfire season.
Swissport strike disrupts Palma Airport during peak summer holiday travel
Ground staff at Palma Airport have begun strike action today, causing disruption to baggage handling and passenger services during the busiest week of summer travel.
France's first locally acquired dengue cases hit Occitanie summer region
France has confirmed two locally acquired dengue cases in Occitanie, a Mediterranean region popular with UK tourists, marking the first local transmission of the 2026 season.
FCDO updates Portugal travel advice: wildfires, theft and insurance
The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Portugal, highlighting wildfire risks, petty crime and the importance of having adequate travel insurance during peak summer season.
Spain and France battle massive wildfires amid intense summer heatwave
Spain's worst wildfire of 2026 has burned 32,000 hectares in Guadalajara, whilst France fights multiple blazes as temperatures rise across Southern Europe.