What to Do If Your Flight is Affected by Air Traffic Control Failures

August bank holiday plans have been thrown into chaos for hundreds of thousands of Brits following an outage of the UK’s air traffic control systems that has led to numerous delays and cancellations.

A short statement posted on the NATs (National Air Traffic Services) website outlined that they were experiencing a technical issue and had applied traffic flow restrictions to maintain safety. Engineers were actively working to find and fix the fault.

The technical issue affected the system’s ability to automatically process flight plans. Consequently, manual updates of flight plans were required to ensure passenger safety, which drastically reduced the flight volume.

The organization emphasized that flight safety remained the top priority and that UK airspace was not officially closed; rather, capacity had been significantly reduced.

By late afternoon on the same day, NATs announced that the issue had been resolved. They indicated that efforts were being made to collaborate closely with airlines and airports to manage affected flights as efficiently as possible. They expressed their commitment to monitor the system’s performance as operations returned to normal.

The flight planning issue hampered the system’s automatic processing capabilities, necessitating manual handling of flight plans, which swelled the need for traffic flow restrictions. The airline body sincerely apologized for the disruption this caused and advised travelers to contact their airline for specific information regarding their flights.

While flights were able to resume, the outage significantly affected thousands of flights in and out of the UK’s major transport hubs. Various stakeholders, including pilots, airline staff, and over 200,000 travelers, either could not depart from airports or found themselves stuck in their travel destinations. Countless passengers faced hours of wait time on runways before disembarking their scheduled flights, and the travel disruptions appeared likely to persist in the days ahead.

As of the following morning, hundreds of flights had been canceled by major airlines as operations teams sought efficient ways to navigate affected passengers to their intended destinations. British Airways, EasyJet, and Ryanair were among the major airlines forced to scale back flight schedules significantly.

What should I do if my flight is affected by the NATs outage?

Initially, it is advisable to check your airline’s official website and app for the most current information. Phone lines may be extremely congested, so online resources can provide timely updates. If you find yourself at the airport, monitoring departure boards is critical. In cases of outright cancellations, approach the airline’s help desk, where staff can effectively direct you.

While guidance on alternative travel plans will come from the airline, additional insights into traveler rights during cancellations can be sought externally from the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s resources.

How long will the delays and cancellations last?

Delays and cancellations have persisted; however, most airlines are optimistic that a return to their regular schedules will occur from the following day onward. This does not, however, accommodate the numerous travelers stranded due to previous cancellations.

What should I do if I’m stranded in my holiday destination?

If your return flight to the UK was canceled, your airline should communicate effectively regarding rescheduling your trip. While compensation may not be applicable due to the outage being outside the airline’s control, travelers should expect alternative flight options or refunds for canceled services. Additionally, the airline is typically responsible for providing meals and drinks during lengthy delays, as well as accommodation when required.

The latest airline statements

EasyJet

EasyJet’s updated statement emphasized that some flights could not operate due to the previous disruption, which affected aircraft positioning and crew schedules from the day prior.

They notified customers in advance, allowing for free flight transfers or refunds to aid in rearranging travel plans. Passengers flying with EasyJet were encouraged to check their flight status via the airline’s flight tracker for real-time updates.

They assured travelers that their safety and well-being were paramount and apologized for the inconvenience caused, reiterating their commitment to mitigating disruption impacts.

British Airways

British Airways stated that their flights had encountered significant disruption due to the technical failures experienced by NATS Air Traffic Control. Although the issue was resolved, it resulted in unavoidable delays and cancellations.

Travelers set to fly with British Airways were advised to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport. If already at the airport, close attention to flight information boards and email updates was recommended.

British Airways offered flexibility for short-haul flights, permitting customers to move their bookings to later dates free of charge, while also rebooking passengers on alternative airlines when practical.

Ryanair

Ryanair reported significant disruptions due to the air traffic control failure, affecting numerous flights and crew scheduling. Travelers were advised to expect some flight cancellations and delays as airlines sought to rebalance their operational schedules.

Ryanair sincerely apologized for the inconveniences and encouraged passengers to check their app for the most current flight information.


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