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UK flights hit by computer glitch UK flights hit by computer glitch
(40 minutes later)
Flights to and from UK airports are being cancelled and delayed because of a computer problem at the main air traffic control centre at Swanwick.Flights to and from UK airports are being cancelled and delayed because of a computer problem at the main air traffic control centre at Swanwick.
Departures have been suspended from Luton airport due to air traffic control restrictions. Arrivals are subject to delays. Departures have been suspended and arrivals delayed at Luton airport due to air traffic control restrictions.
Heathrow Airport is also reporting disruption on all flights due to the technical problems. Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports have also reported delays, along with Cardiff, Bristol, Southampton, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
At Stansted arrivals are unaffected but departures are subject to delay. Air traffic controllers said they hoped to restore the system by early evening.
"Flights are departing but at a reduced level," said a spokesman for the airport. National Air Traffic Services (Nats) said engineers were investigating the cause of the computer fault at the London Area Control Centre, which deals with planes flying over the south east of England.
The London Terminal Control Centre, also based in Swanwick which is responsible for landing and departing aircraft, is still operating fully but it is restricting departures due to the additional workload.
LONDON AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL The London air traffic control centre at Swanwick, Hampshire, has two parts with different responsibilities: The London Area Control Centre (LACC) is responsible for aircraft flying over England and WalesThe London Terminal Control Centre (LTCC) handles aircraft approaching and departing south-east England airports Both centres are run by National Air Traffic Services (Nats), which is part-owned by the government and a consortium of airlines Swanwick's troubled historyLONDON AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL The London air traffic control centre at Swanwick, Hampshire, has two parts with different responsibilities: The London Area Control Centre (LACC) is responsible for aircraft flying over England and WalesThe London Terminal Control Centre (LTCC) handles aircraft approaching and departing south-east England airports Both centres are run by National Air Traffic Services (Nats), which is part-owned by the government and a consortium of airlines Swanwick's troubled history
Bristol, Southampton and East Midlands airports are also suffering knock-on delays.
National Air Traffic Services (Nats) said engineers were investigating the cause of the computer fault and were working to restore the system by 1900 BST on Thursday.
Only sectors controlled from the London Area Control Centre, which covers the south east of England, were directly affected, it said.
The London Terminal Control Centre, also based in Swanwick but which is responsible for landing and departing aircraft, is still operating but it is restricting departures due to the additional workload.
Nats said restrictions on take-offs and landings had been introduced to ensure passenger safety while controllers operated manual systems at reduced capacity.Nats said restrictions on take-offs and landings had been introduced to ensure passenger safety while controllers operated manual systems at reduced capacity.
BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds said the problems stemmed from a glitch with computers which deal with information about flights when they are at higher altitude.BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds said the problems stemmed from a glitch with computers which deal with information about flights when they are at higher altitude.
Air traffic controllers could still see where planes were, but were finding it difficult to identify them, he said.Air traffic controllers could still see where planes were, but were finding it difficult to identify them, he said.
This has resulted in a reduced flow of aircraft from airports in the south east of England, with planes at Heathrow leaving every two minutes rather than every 90 seconds. This has resulted in a reduced flow of aircraft from airports, with planes at Heathrow leaving every two minutes rather than every 90 seconds.
Flight cancellations
Luton airport has so far cancelled seven European flights to Budapest, Lisbon, Zurich, Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam and Dortmund.
Flights from Cardiff International Airport were also temporarily halted by the fault, a spokeswoman said.
"All flights are currently grounded, inbound and outbound. We are not entirely sure at the moment when they are going to be back up and running," she added.
A spokesman for Manchester Airport said some European and international flights had been affected as they were routed to fly over south east of England.
A spokesman for airport operator BAA, which runs Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Southampton airports, said "many UK airports" would be affected by the problem.
"Aircraft continue to land and depart, however the process is slower than normal, which means that inevitably, some flights will be delayed and some will be cancelled," he said.
"We are working hard with the airlines to minimise disruption and restore the operation as quickly as possible."
British Airways says it is cancelling "a few" short haul flights to domestic and European destinations from Heathrow.British Airways says it is cancelling "a few" short haul flights to domestic and European destinations from Heathrow.
Airport authorities have advised passengers to contact their airlines before travelling.Airport authorities have advised passengers to contact their airlines before travelling.
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