Air travellers in the UK faced further disruption on Wednesday after hundreds of flights were cancelled following a technical problem affecting the country’s air traffic control system.
Passengers stand with their luggage as they queue to check-in at the South Terminal of London Gatwick airport near Crawley, southern England on September 9, 2026, following second day of major disruption due an issue affecting the NATS air traffic control systems. UK travellers faced more misery on September 9, with more than 150 flights scrapped across the country, as Britain’s air traffic control service scrambled to recover from a technical glitch that sparked chaos. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
A total of 291 flights were cancelled on Wednesday, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium, following 1,746 cancellations the previous day. London Heathrow, one of Europe’s busiest airports, was among the worst affected.
The UK’s air traffic control service, National Air Traffic Services (NATS), has ruled out a cyberattack as the cause of the disruption.
Thousands of travellers affected
NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe said the organisation would carry out a thorough investigation into the incident.
British Airways cancelled more than 190 flights, affecting tens of thousands of passengers, while budget airline Ryanair said more than 65,000 of its passengers had been disrupted and 50 flights cancelled.
Travellers reported long delays on aircraft, problems collecting baggage and difficulty finding accommodation as nearby hotels filled up.
Passengers at London Gatwick were also affected, while Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh airports experienced disruption. Dublin Airport reported dozens of cancelled flights.
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Disruption could continue
Although Heathrow said departures had resumed after the technical issue forced it to suspend arrivals, the airport warned that further disruption was expected.
The incident has also raised concerns about the resilience of the UK’s aviation infrastructure. The country experienced another major air systems failure in 2023, which affected more than 700,000 passengers through widespread delays and cancellations.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has called for assurances that lessons from the latest incident will be learned.
Travellers flying through the UK are advised to check directly with their airline and airport for the latest information before heading to the airport.
Source: IOL via AFP
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