Hundreds more flights were canceled on Wednesday, extending the travel chaos across the United Kingdom as passengers braced for a second day of disruption following a major technical failure in the air traffic control system operated by NATS.
Approximately 1,300 flights were canceled to and from UK airports on Tuesday after a technical issue affected NATS, the provider of air traffic control services for 15 airports nationwide. Airlines have warned of further cancellations and delays as they work to recover from the disruption and reposition aircraft and crew.
By 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Heathrow Airport had recorded 246 cancellations, while Gatwick reported 33. Passengers flying through Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Stansted have been advised to check their flight status before traveling, as the backlog is expected to take time to resolve.
Heathrow Airport confirmed that flights were operating on Wednesday but cautioned that disruptions might persist throughout the day. "Following yesterday's NATS technical issue, flights are operating today, but some disruption may continue as airlines reposition aircraft and crew," the airport stated. Passengers are urged to confirm their flight status with their airline and to travel only if their flight is confirmed.
Travel journalist Simon Calder noted that the cascading effects could be severe, with aircraft and crews out of position. He told Sky News that dozens of morning flights into Heathrow were likely to be canceled because the preceding flights did not operate the previous night, describing the knock-on effects as "horrible."
The disruption has affected tens of thousands of travelers, with some passengers experiencing extended waits on aircraft and lengthy queues at terminals. One passenger, Josie Donoghue, described her experience at Gatwick as being "trapped" for three hours before her flight was eventually canceled.
Ryanair reported that over 65,000 of its passengers were disrupted, leading to more than 50 canceled flights. British Airways stated that it had to cancel or divert over 100 flights on Tuesday, impacting "tens of thousands of customers."
The incident has intensified criticism of NATS Chief Executive Martin Rolfe, with Ryanair calling for his resignation over what they termed repeated failures. Ryanair's Chief Operating Officer Neal McMahon stated that passengers have suffered "avoidable ATC (air traffic control) delays of up to eight hours" due to a critical NATS system failure, referencing a similar incident in 2023.
Rolfe defended his position, asserting that he "always accept(s) full responsibility" as the CEO of critical infrastructure. He emphasized his focus on resolving the issue and restoring normal operations for airlines, airports, and the traveling public.
Wizz Air also expressed disappointment with NATS, citing the repeated technical problems that have caused widespread disruption. The airline stated that a "critical national infrastructure provider should not repeatedly bring the aviation system to a standstill."
NATS confirmed that efforts were ongoing to assist airlines and airports in recovering from the disruption. In a statement on X, the organization acknowledged the complexity of the recovery and the time required to restore the network. They reiterated their apologies to affected passengers.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is scheduled to speak with Rolfe on Wednesday before addressing Members of Parliament. Shadow Transport Minister Greg Smith criticized NATS, which is 49% government-owned, questioning the UK's ability to maintain its airspace operations and calling for explanations from the government and NATS regarding the incident and future resilience improvements.
Luton Airport reported on Wednesday morning that it was operational but cautioned that some flights might still be affected, advising passengers to check directly with their airlines.
