Air travel across the UK remained severely disrupted after a technical failure in the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) flight-processing system caused more than 1,000 flight cancellations on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, more than 170 flights had already been cancelled, most of them at London Heathrow, with further delays expected as airlines clear the backlog.
Heathrow was not completely closed. Due to the NATS failure, Heathrow suspended all arrivals for the remainder of Tuesday night, while departures later resumed. The airport warned that disruption would continue and advised passengers to travel only if their flight was confirmed.
What Caused the Disruption?
NATS identified the problem in its flight-processing system and implemented a fix, but the resulting backlog left aircraft and crews out of position. UK airspace remained open, although flight movements were restricted.
Airports and Flights Affected
Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Luton, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen were among the affected airports. Disruptions also spread to European airports, including Dublin.
What Should Passengers Do?
Passengers flying through Heathrow, particularly on India-UK routes, should check their airline’s live status before leaving for the airport.
Air India and British Airways services were among those affected. Do not travel to Heathrow unless your airline confirms your flight is operating.
NATS has apologised, but warned that restoring normal schedules would take time. Airlines including Ryanair, Wizz Air, British Airways and easyJet criticised the disruption.
