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UK air traffic control glitch hits hundreds of flights UK air traffic control glitch resolved, officials announce
(about 9 hours later)
Thousands of passengers have been left stranded at the UK's major airports after technical problems at the country's main air traffic control centre caused hundreds of flights to be cancelled or delayed. Technical problems that caused a day of cancellations and delays at the UK's major airports on Saturday have been resolved, aviation officials announced.
The problems at National Air Traffic Services' (Nats) control centre in Swanwick, Hampshire, which deals with air traffic in the south of England, have led to delays of up to two hours and a fifth of flights being cancelled at Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick airports. The problems at National Air Traffic Services' (Nats) control centre in Swanwick, Hampshire – which deals with air traffic in the south of England – led to delays of up to two hours and a fifth of flights being cancelled at Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick airports.
The Association of British Travel Agents said the problem was unlikely to be resolved before 2pm. Passengers could face delays throughout Saturday. Luton, Southampton, London City, Cardiff, Bristol, Bournemouth, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin airports also reported delays.
Luton, Southampton, London City, Cardiff, Bristol, Bournemouth, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin airports have also reported delays. Nats earlier said the problems emerged when staff switched from night to daytime operations.
A Nats spokesman said: "Due to a technical problem at Swanwick, we are currently experiencing some difficulty switching from night-time to daytime operation. This may result in some delays, for which we apologise. Engineers are working to rectify the problem as soon as possible." A spokesman added that the problem was linked to voice communications, which includes, but is not confined to, the telephone system.
The spokesman added that the problem was linked to voice communications, which includes, but is not confined to, the telephone system. The Prestwick air control centre in Ayrshire, which deals with Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England, was not affected. The two air traffic control centres normally handle up to 6,000 arriving and departing flights a day.
The Prestwick air control centre in Ayrshire, which deals with Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England, has not been affected. The two air traffic control centres normally handle up to 6,000 arriving and departing flights a day. Although the problem was fixed on Saturday evening, delays disruption was expected to continue as airports worked to clear the backlog.
The Airport Operators' Association should passengers should contact their airline directly for flight information.The Airport Operators' Association should passengers should contact their airline directly for flight information.
A British Airways spokeswoman said that all airlines at Heathrow and Gatwick, and other airports, were suffering delays.
Passengers at Heathrow airport, Europe's busiest, suffered delays of more than an hour on many morning departures, and several dozen short-haul flights to destinations including Nice, Milan and Istanbul were cancelled.Passengers at Heathrow airport, Europe's busiest, suffered delays of more than an hour on many morning departures, and several dozen short-haul flights to destinations including Nice, Milan and Istanbul were cancelled.
"We are doing all we can to minimise disruption to our flights, but there will inevitably be a number of short-haul cancellations at some UK and European airports," she said."Given that Heathrow is the world's busiest two-runway airport and Gatwick is the world's busiest single-runway airport, there will be problems for all airlines." "We are doing all we can to minimise disruption to our flights, but there will inevitably be a number of short-haul cancellations at some UK and European airports," she said.
A spokeswoman for Gatwick airport said: "There are some issues with the air traffic control system. The result of it is that, at the moment, 20% of our flights are being delayed by anything up to a couple of hours, but we're getting people moving and getting them away. There are no problems with arrivals at the moment." "Given that Heathrow is the world's busiest two-runway airport and Gatwick is the world's busiest single-runway airport, there will be problems for all airlines."
A Stansted airport spokesman said all of its departing flights were subject to delays of between 30 minutes and two hours, while Gatwick airport said 20% of its departures had been delayed, with passengers warned they could have to wait "a couple of hours". A spokeswoman for Gatwick airport said 20% of its flights had faced delays of up to two hours.
The Stansted spokesman said: "There are restrictions on the air space and the flow of aircraft. Our first departures go at 6am, so that's when the problems started." A Stansted airport spokesman said all of its departing flights had been subject to delays of between 30 minutes and two hours, while Gatwick airport said 20% of its departures had been delayed, with passengers warned they could have to wait "a couple of hours".
A Manchester airport spokesman said: "At Manchester airport we are currently facing minor delays but traffic is coming in and out. The safety of our passengers is always paramount so we will continue to liaise with air traffic control until the issue is resolved.
"Passengers should check with their airline and on our website for individual flight information."
On its website, Ryanair apologised for any inconvenience: "Ryanair has been advised of an equipment failure within UK air traffic control which will cause significant flight delays and possible cancellations."On its website, Ryanair apologised for any inconvenience: "Ryanair has been advised of an equipment failure within UK air traffic control which will cause significant flight delays and possible cancellations."
Chris Yates, an aviation expert said that it would be a difficult day for anyone flying on Saturday. "It's going to be a day of frustrations and the knock-on effects are going to last for the whole day because of the backlog of planes," he said. Chris Yates, an aviation expert said that it would be a difficult day for anyone flying on Saturday.
"It's going to be a day of frustrations and the knock-on effects are going to last for the whole day because of the backlog of planes," he said.
Yates said Swanwick controls all aircraft over the South of England, meaning thousands of passengers would be affected.Yates said Swanwick controls all aircraft over the South of England, meaning thousands of passengers would be affected.
"There are contingency plans in place whenever this happens," he said. "Many of the long-haul flights, coming from China, India, the US and so on, passengers sitting on those planes may find themselves diverted to continental airports. But it's going to be a long wait for them. When the system kicks back in and starts working, there will be a backlog of flights. For those waiting to fly out, it's going to be a case of sitting around the airport terminal until things get back to normal." "There are contingency plans in place whenever this happens," he said. "Many of the long-haul flights, coming from China, India, the US and so on, passengers sitting on those planes may find themselves diverted to continental airports.
Passenger Daisy McAndrew said she had been caught in the "unholy mess" at Gatwick as she tried to fly to Barcelona for work. "As ever, staff have been fantastic but they know nothing other than the fact it is going to be a very, very long delay - very frustrating," McAndrew told Sky News. "But it's going to be a long wait for them. When the system kicks back in and starts working, there will be a backlog of flights.
"And also, it's embarrassing, isn't it? When you look around a lot of people on my plane are not British, they are flying British Airways, they are probably trying to get back to Spain and they will inevitably be thinking this is something that could have possibly been prevented. It doesn't show our air traffic control system or our travel system in a good light. "For those waiting to fly out, it's going to be a case of sitting around the airport terminal until things get back to normal."
"I have never heard of an example where every single plane is grounded - it's quite eerie when I look out of the window to see the [runway] in Gatwick, normally so busy, and also the sky above Gatwick which is normally busy - completely static, there's nothing moving." Passenger Daisy McAndrew said she had been caught in the "unholy mess" at Gatwick as she tried to fly to Barcelona for work.
A spokesman for Cardiff airport said all flights this morning had been affected. "As ever, staff have been fantastic but they know nothing other than the fact it is going to be a very, very long delay – very frustrating," McAndrew told Sky News.
Incoming flights from Glasgow, Dublin and Amsterdam are delayed with no estimated time of arrival. "And also, it's embarrassing, isn't it? When you look around a lot of people on my plane are not British, they are flying British Airways, they are probably trying to get back to Spain and they will inevitably be thinking this is something that could have possibly been prevented.
"It doesn't show our air traffic control system or our travel system in a good light.
"I have never heard of an example where every single plane is grounded – it's quite eerie when I look out of the window to see the [runway] in Gatwick, normally so busy, and also the sky above Gatwick which is normally busy – completely static, there's nothing moving."
A spokesman for Cardiff airport said all flights on Saturday morning had been affected.
Incoming flights from Glasgow, Dublin and Amsterdam were delayed with no estimated time of arrival.
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