EasyJet has launched a scathing attack on the UK government, demanding compensation after a major air traffic control failure caused travel chaos for thousands of passengers.
The budget airline blamed the technical meltdown at NATS, the UK's air traffic control provider, for massive disruptions that left flights grounded and holidaymakers stranded across Europe.
Passengers Left in Limbo
The incident, which occurred last month, forced EasyJet to cancel hundreds of flights, with knock-on effects lasting days. The airline estimates the disruption cost them around £40 million, a bill they believe the government should foot.
"This was entirely avoidable," an EasyJet spokesperson said. "The government must take responsibility for the systemic failures at NATS that caused this mess."
NATS Under Fire
NATS, which handles over two million flights annually, faced intense scrutiny after the outage. The glitch, caused by a single faulty flight plan, exposed vulnerabilities in the UK's air traffic control infrastructure.
Aviation experts warn that without significant investment, similar disruptions could happen again. "The system is outdated and fragile," said one industry insider. "It's only a matter of time before the next crisis."
Government Response
While the Department for Transport acknowledged the severity of the incident, it stopped short of committing to compensation. A spokesperson said: "We are working closely with NATS to prevent future disruptions."
Meanwhile, frustrated passengers are still awaiting refunds and compensation, with many vowing to avoid air travel during peak periods until the system is fixed.
