LONDON- National Air Traffic Services (NATS), the UK’s air traffic control provider, is investigating a technical problem in its flight processing system that has disrupted departures across the UK and Ireland.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR), Gatwick Airport (LGW), Stansted Airport (STN), East Midlands Airport (EMA), and Dublin Airport (DUB) have reported disruption, while British Airways (BA) and Ryanair (FR) are among airlines managing affected services.
ATC Technical Issue Disrupts UK Air Travel
The NATS system failure has caused significant disruption to flight departures, with airports across the UK and Ireland warning passengers about delays and possible cancellations.
At London Heathrow Airport (LHR), departures were initially paused around lunchtime. Operations later resumed but faced further disruption during the afternoon, with very few aircraft understood to be taking off.
The disruption has also affected Gatwick Airport (LGW), where airport officials warned that the situation remained fluid and cancellations were expected.
EasyJet (U2), Gatwick’s largest airline, confirmed that its operations were being affected by the technical problem.
British Airways Cancels Short-Haul Flights
British Airways (BA) has cancelled several short-haul services as the disruption continues. The airline is prioritising long-haul departures while the air traffic control problem limits airport capacity.
British Airways advised passengers to travel to the airport as normal if they have not been contacted directly by the airline.
The carrier said the disruption was entirely outside its control, highlighting the impact of the Nats system failure on flight operations.
Ryanair (FR) said passengers affected by the disruption would be notified.
Multiple UK Airports Affected
The disruption is not limited to London. East Midlands Airport (EMA) has also been affected, while Manchester Airport (MAN) warned that some departing flights could face delays.
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) said the technical issue could affect its operations and advised passengers to monitor flight information.
Belfast International Airport (BFS) and George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) also advised passengers to check the latest flight information before travelling.
Ireland Airports Also Reporting Delays
The technical problem has spread to flight operations involving Ireland, with Dublin Airport (DUB) and Cork Airport (ORK) reporting delays.
Because departures are being restricted, aircraft movements are being affected across the wider network. The limited number of aircraft able to depart from UK airports has also prevented some flights from leaving overseas airports for the UK.
Passengers travelling from affected airports have been advised to check directly with their airlines for the latest information before heading to the airport.
NATS Investigates Flight Processing System Failure
Nats said it was investigating an issue with its flight processing system that was disrupting some departures.
The air navigation service provider said engineers were on site and working urgently to restore normal operations.
Nats apologised for the delays and advised passengers to check their flight status with their airline. The organisation said it would provide further updates through its website and X account.
The disruption has also drawn attention from the UK government. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was aware of the situation and recognised the frustration caused to passengers.
Passenger Advice as Disruption Continues
Passengers with flights from affected airports should check their airline’s website, app or direct notifications before travelling.
Airlines remain responsible for communicating cancellations and other changes to individual bookings, while airports continue to provide operational updates.
The scale of the disruption will depend on how quickly Nats restores normal processing operations and how airlines manage aircraft and crew affected by the delays.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
