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Air delays follow computer glitch | Air delays follow computer glitch |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Northern Ireland travellers have been hit by delays after computer problems at an air traffic control centre. | |
A glitch at the control centre at Swanwick, Hampshire, which covers the South East of England has been fixed. | |
Although services are said to be returning to normal, some delays are still occurring. | |
It is not yet known if there will be a knock-on effect for travellers on Friday. Live flight information is available from airport websites. | |
Belfast International Airport and the George Best Belfast City Airport warned of delays for all flights on Thursday using London airspace and some cancellations. | |
The City of Derry Airport reported only slight delays to flights. | The City of Derry Airport reported only slight delays to flights. |
A spokeswoman for Dublin Airport said a number of London flights were affected by the incident. | |
Laurence Elmore was among those caught up in the delays on a Jet2 flight to Murcia at Belfast International Airport. | |
He said that they had boarded at 1530 BST, but the airline was confident they would get them to their destination on Thursday evening. | He said that they had boarded at 1530 BST, but the airline was confident they would get them to their destination on Thursday evening. |
"They have explained there's a problem with the Swanwick radar and they are doing all in their power that they can," he said. | "They have explained there's a problem with the Swanwick radar and they are doing all in their power that they can," he said. |
AIRPORT WEBLINKS Belfast International AirportGeorge Best Belfast City Airport City of Derry AirportDublin International Airport | AIRPORT WEBLINKS Belfast International AirportGeorge Best Belfast City Airport City of Derry AirportDublin International Airport |
"There is no discomfort or distress, at this point everyone is in good enough humour." | "There is no discomfort or distress, at this point everyone is in good enough humour." |
Passengers at Gatwick airport reported cancellations on flights run by budget airline easyJet. | Passengers at Gatwick airport reported cancellations on flights run by budget airline easyJet. |
Eamon McGee, a 36-year-old construction consultant from Londonderry, Northern Ireland, said passengers were "queuing around like a big snake". | Eamon McGee, a 36-year-old construction consultant from Londonderry, Northern Ireland, said passengers were "queuing around like a big snake". |
"There's a queue of about 100 people waiting to speak to someone," he said. | "There's a queue of about 100 people waiting to speak to someone," he said. |
"They've closed the check-in desk, that's not a good sign. There's no-one to ask what's happening. There's a long queue for the easyJet desk. It's not mayhem, but there are a lot of people here. | "They've closed the check-in desk, that's not a good sign. There's no-one to ask what's happening. There's a long queue for the easyJet desk. It's not mayhem, but there are a lot of people here. |
"There hasn't been any information, I've only heard things from what's on television in the restaurant." | "There hasn't been any information, I've only heard things from what's on television in the restaurant." |
Mr McGee was on his way to Ibiza for a stag weekend when the flights were grounded. | |
"I'm still hopeful about getting there," he said. "I don't know if we'll make it, there might have to be a change of plan." | "I'm still hopeful about getting there," he said. "I don't know if we'll make it, there might have to be a change of plan." |