A technical fault at UK air traffic control has caused severe flight delays and cancellations across the country, affecting thousands of passengers. National Air Traffic Services (Nats) confirmed the issue was resolved by 15:15 BST, but the knock-on effects are expected to persist for days.
All airlines operating in the UK have been impacted, with over 500 flights cancelled. British Airways advised short-haul passengers not to travel to airports unless their flight was confirmed operating. Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air, Loganair and Aer Lingus also reported delays and cancellations.
Air traffic control expert Doug Maclean, with nearly 40 years of experience, described the flight data processing system as 'vital' for managing air traffic volumes. He noted that when the system fails, flight details must be entered manually, a process he said was more common 10 to 15 years ago.
Passengers have faced significant disruption. Carl, a teacher stranded in Munich, described watching flight, ferry and Eurostar tickets disappear or triple in price. He is now travelling to Amsterdam to catch a flight back to the UK on Wednesday, losing two days of work.
Rory Dollard, a British journalist stuck in France, said he and his family may be unable to return for up to six days. He expressed concern over who would cover the costs of extended accommodation, questioning whether Ryanair, insurers or others are responsible.
Nats has promised a thorough investigation into the cause of the four-hour outage. Passengers affected by the disruption are encouraged to contact the BBC at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
