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Several major UK airports are continuing to experience delays and cancellations following an air traffic control technical failure on Tuesday, September 8. The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) has now resolved the issue, which affected its flight processing system, but the disruption is expected to continue through Wednesday as airlines and airports work through backlogged flights.
The failure caused widespread disruption across the UK on Tuesday, with FlightRadar24 reporting around 1,300 cancellations to and from UK airports. Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Stansted were among the airports affected, while the disruption also had knock-on effects at airports across Europe.
NATs boss Martin Rolfe has apologized for the disruption, telling the BBC there would be a full investigation into what had gone wrong, after the firm said resolving the issue had taken “longer than hoped.” An official statement on the NATs website reads: “This has been a very complex recovery and has created difficulties for the whole aviation network, from which it will take time to recover.”
London Heathrow was particularly impacted. Arrivals were suspended for the remainder of Tuesday, while departures resumed later in the day. The airport has warned that disruption will continue and is advising passengers to check directly with their airline before traveling. A statement on the airport’s X account on Wednesday morning reads: “Following yesterday’s NATS technical issue, flights are operating today, but some disruption may continue as airlines reposition aircraft and crew. Please check your flight status with your airline before traveling to the airport and only travel if your flight is confirmed to be operating.”
FlightRadar24 is currently reporting that 177 flights scheduled for Wednesday, September 9 have already been canceled, with the vast majority at Heathrow, while further delays and cancellations are expected as aircraft and crew displaced by the disruption are repositioned.
Can I get a refund if my flight was disrupted?
If your flight was delayed or canceled following Tuesday’s air traffic control issues at NATS, you may be entitled to flight compensation. According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, passengers can claim compensation ranging from £220 (approximately $300) per person to £520 (approximately $700) per person if the delay causes you to reach your destination airport more than three hours late. If the delay is more than five hours, you can choose not to travel and receive a refund. Because air traffic control issues are typically considered “extraordinary circumstances” outside the airline’s control, cash payouts aren’t likely in this scenario. However, many airlines will still provide food and drink vouchers, airport transfers, and hotel accommodations for overnight delays. If your flight is canceled, the airline is required to provide an alternate flight or full refund.
Flight delay compensation in the UK is not automatic, and the procedure for submitting a claim varies by airline. Because the UK is no longer part of the European Union, EU passenger rights only apply to UK flights if it arrives in an EU country and is operated by an EU airline (for example, if you were flying from London to Paris with Air France).
Passengers should check the status of their flight and compensation policies directly with their airline and monitor the NATS website and X account for further updates.
UK airports reporting disruptions:
- London Heathrow Airport
- London Gatwick Airport
- London Luton Airport
- London Stansted Airport
- Manchester Airport
- Birmingham Airport
- Belfast City Airport
- Edinburgh Airport
- East Midlands Airport
- Jersey Airport
This is a developing news story and will be updated with more information. This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK.
