Hundreds of thousands of passengers are facing travel chaos after Britain’s air traffic control system collapsed on Monday, one of the busiest travel days of the year.
The failure of NATS, the national air traffic control provider, has caused widespread delays and cancellations of flights across the UK.
In a statement, NATS said that it was experiencing a “technical issue” and had imposed traffic flow restrictions to maintain safety. Engineers are working to fix the problem.
The breakdown has had a knock-on effect on flights across Europe, with some airlines cancelling flights to and from the UK.
Loganair, a Scottish airline, said that it was hopeful of being able to operate most intra-Scotland flights, but that north-south and international flights may be subject to delays.
The breakdown is the latest in a series of problems to hit the UK air travel industry. In recent months, there have been strikes by air traffic controllers and baggage handlers, as well as technical problems with aircraft.
The chaos is likely to cause widespread frustration and inconvenience for passengers, many of whom are travelling for the summer holidays.
NATS has apologized for the disruption and said that it is working to fix the problem as quickly as possible. Here are some tips for passengers affected by the air traffic control system breakdown:
- Allow extra time for travel.
- Consider rebooking your flight if possible.
- Be patient and understanding with airline staff.
- Check the status of your flight before you leave for the airport.
The air traffic control system breakdown is a reminder of the importance of this critical infrastructure. It is also a reminder of the challenges facing the UK air travel industry.