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Air Traffic Control Issue Causes Chaos at Heathrow and Gatwick: Passengers Unlikely to Get Compensation
Developing
In Short: Passengers facing delays and cancellations at Heathrow and Gatwick are unlikely to receive compensation, according to the UK's air traffic control provider.
Passengers at Heathrow and Gatwick airports are experiencing significant travel disruptions due to a technical issue with the UK's air traffic control system, affecting over 2,000 flights. The National Air Traffic Services (Nats) has issued an alert, leading to hundreds of thousands of passengers being impacted. According to reports, 7% of all flights failed to take off on Tuesday and Wednesday, with 1,300 flights cancelled on Tuesday alone, and 347 on Wednesday, as per Flightradar24 data.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has warned that passengers are unlikely to receive compensation for delays or cancellations caused by the technical issue. Aviation analytics firm Cirium stated that 154 flights did not depart UK airports, and 203 did not arrive. Despite the disruption, there is little expected on Thursday, with 400 flights cancelled the previous day.
A fraudster has been attempting to exploit the situation by offering alternative flights, but these were fraudulent and the payments were not going through. Passengers at Heathrow have been the worst affected, with the CAA advising that airlines must provide meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodation for delays.
What's confirmed
- This means passengers are “unlikely to be entitled to compensation for delays or cancellations that were directly caused by the incident,” it said.
- As airport passengers began seeing flights delayed on departure boards at Heathrow and Gatwick, National Air Traffic Services (Nats), the UK ’s air traffic control provider, issued an alert over a “technical issue” causing disruption.
- Passenger journeys in chaos over ‘technical issue’ hitting hundreds of take-offs Passenger journeys in chaos over ‘technical issue’ hitting hundreds of take-offs Tens of thousands of passengers plunged into travel chaos this week are unlikely to get compensation, the regulator has warned.
- More than 2,000 flights to and from the UK were cancelled or delayed on Tuesday and Wednesday due to a “technical issue”.
- Asked whether Ms Alexander and the prime minister still have confidence in Rolfe, a spokesperson said: “We have confidence in him and he’s been tasked with an investigation.” Have you been affected by airport delays?
What's still developing
- A fraudster pretending to work for the airline tried to offer them alternative flights from London City, Gatwick or Heathrow airports and via Munich.