Wednesday’s air traffic control technical fault caused widespread disruption as thousands of families prepared for summer holidays. Passengers facing significant delays are entitled to care and assistance, including food, drink, phone calls, and accommodation if delayed overnight, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Airlines typically provide vouchers for refreshments and arrange hotel stays. If staff cannot assist all passengers, you can arrange these yourself and claim reasonable costs later. The CAA advises keeping receipts and avoiding luxury hotels or alcohol, as airlines are unlikely to refund excessive spending.
For cancelled flights covered by UK law—departing from a UK airport on any airline, or arriving in the UK on an EU/UK airline, or arriving in the EU on a UK airline—you are entitled to choose between an alternative flight or a refund for unused portions of your ticket. If you opt for a refund or later travel, the airline’s duty to provide care ends.
Naomi Leach, deputy editor of Which? Travel, advises checking airport and airline updates via apps and social media. However, compensation is unlikely as the technical fault is considered an “extraordinary circumstance” beyond airline control, the CAA confirms.
For package holidays, Abta says if your holiday is cancelled or significantly changed—typically a delay over 12 hours on a fortnight—the travel company must offer an alternative or full refund. Travel insurance may cover additional costs like non-refundable hotels or car hire, but check your policy details, advises Alex Cross of Tesco Insurance.
