LONDON: Air travel in the United Kingdom has been disrupted as the country’s air traffic control systems encountered a technical fault on Monday. Airlines and airports are advising passengers of potential flight delays and even cancellations.
The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) announced the issue, stating that they are working to address the technical fault that has necessitated traffic flow restrictions to ensure safety. Engineers are actively investigating the problem, although the details of the cause and the expected resolution time have not been disclosed.
NATS underscored that while the technical issue has impacted operations, the UK airspace has not been closed. This occurrence coincides with a busy travel day, as Monday marks a public holiday in certain parts of the UK.
Passengers Suffer Due to Flights’ Disruption
London’s Gatwick airport acknowledged the technical issue, expressing awareness of delays and forecasting possible cancellations. Heathrow, the largest and busiest airport in the UK, confirmed nationwide disruptions due to airspace issues and advised passengers to stay informed by checking with their respective airlines.
British Airways assured customers that they are collaborating closely with NATS to comprehend the implications of the technical fault and will continue to provide updates. Similarly, budget airline Ryanair, which primarily operates across Europe, disclosed that a number of flights to and from the UK on Monday will face delays or cancellations due to the situation.
Adding to the list of impacted airlines, Scottish carrier Loganair reported a network-wide failure of UK air traffic control computer systems early Monday morning, cautioning passengers about potential flight delays.
