in-cyprus 31 July 2025
Flight disruption across UK airports could persist for several days following Wednesday’s air traffic control system failure, with passengers urged to verify flight status directly with airlines as operators work to clear substantial backlogs.
Travel expert Simon Calder warned that thousands of passengers remained stranded Thursday morning after more than 150 flight cancellations on Wednesday. “There would be thousands of people who are waking up where they did not expect to be this morning,” Calder told BBC Breakfast.
The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) radar-related technical failure, resolved within one hour on Wednesday, triggered widespread cancellations during peak summer travel season when airline capacity operates at maximum efficiency with minimal spare seats available.
“The trouble is, at this time of year everything is stretched, all the airlines are running to maximum efficiency, very little slack in the system, very few spare seats to accommodate passengers whose flights were cancelled in the hundreds,” Calder said.
Airports across the UK issued advisories Thursday urging passengers to confirm flight information with carriers. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said NATS was collaborating with airports and airlines “to clear the backlog safely and look after passengers.”
According to flight data firm Cirium, 84 departures and 71 arrivals were cancelled Wednesday evening across UK airports, representing 3% of departures and 2% of arrivals. Multiple flights required diversion to European airports.
Heathrow Airport reported normal operations Thursday with 10 cancelled flights – four departures and six arrivals. Manchester Airport cancelled six flights but integrated rescheduled services without affecting other operations. Stansted and Gatwick airports confirmed stable operations.
Airlines face the complex task of repositioning stranded passengers, aircraft and crew during the industry’s busiest travel period. Under UK law, carriers must provide meals, accommodation and alternative flights at no additional cost, though compensation requirements do not apply to “extraordinary circumstances” including air traffic control failures.
