DUBLIN, Ireland: Disruptions caused by Aer Lingus cancelations due to maintenance delays could affect nearly 23,000 passengers traveling on 430 flights this summer, it is reported.

The Irish airline said over the weekend that it might cancel up to 2 percent of its flights this summer due to maintenance requirements, according to The Irish Times.

Aer Lingus carries more than 12 million passengers each year, with most travel occurring between April and October, the busy summer season.

Sources said delays in maintaining aircraft bodies would affect about 120 flights, while another 30 would be affected by other necessary checks.

The report said that reducing flights on some routes based on booking numbers could result in around 280 additional schedule changes, affecting about 15,000 passengers.

Airlines usually combine, or "consolidate," flights when bookings indicate fewer flights are needed to carry all passengers.

The maintenance delays are happening because repairs identified during inspections are taking longer, mainly due to supply shortages in the maintenance industry.

Airlines normally plan their schedules based on expected aircraft maintenance timelines.

Aer Lingus said that it was arranging for the most affected passengers to travel on alternative flights to reach their destinations on the same day. Industry sources said that cancellations and schedule changes of this size are fairly common.

The airline also clarified that its decision was not linked to concerns about jet fuel supplies caused by the ongoing situation in the Strait of Hormuz, which has been affected by the US-Israel conflict with Iran.

However, people in the aviation industry admitted that the situation has made passengers more aware of possible cancellations or disruptions to their travel plans.