Flights operating in U.K. airspace experienced delays or cancellations on Monday due to a technical issue identified and resolved by Britain’s National Air Traffic Service (NATS).
NATS had to manually input flight plans and limit the flow of aircraft after the issue disrupted the automatic processing of flight plans. This resulted in delays and cancellations reported by airlines and airports.
In a statement, NATS said, “We have identified and resolved the technical issue affecting our flight planning system. We are now working closely with airlines and airports to efficiently manage the affected flights. Our engineers will continue to monitor the system’s performance as we return to normal operations.”
Earlier, AirNav Ireland, a provider of Irish air traffic control, stated that the issue was causing significant delays for flights across Europe traveling to, from, or through U.K. airspace, exacerbated by a public holiday in parts of Britain.
Various U.K. airports, including London Heathrow and Gatwick, worked in collaboration with NATS and other airport partners to minimize the impact on passengers. Irish airports, such as Dublin, also experienced delays and cancellations.
According to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, there were almost 50 flights scheduled between Canada and the U.K. for Monday. These flights accounted for approximately 13,500 sold seats for travelers between the two countries. As of 11 a.m. ET, there were no reported cancellations for Canada-U.K. flights.
Loganair, a Scottish airline, reported a network-wide failure of U.K. air traffic control computer systems. British Airways and Ryanair also faced disruptions, leading to changes in their flight schedules.
Multiple U.K. airports, including Manchester and London Stansted, warned passengers about potential flight disruptions. Dublin Airport experienced delays and cancellations as well.
Passengers took to social media to express their frustration, reporting being stuck on planes or held within airport buildings in various countries. A Reuters witness at Budapest airport mentioned an anticipated delay of 8-12 hours.
The article was written by Kylie MacLellan, with additional reporting by Mitch Phillips. It was edited by Louise Heavens, Jason Neely, and Alison Williams, and includes information from Global News reporter Craig Lord.
© 2023 Thomson Reuters
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