Over 1,900 UK Flights Cancelled As Air Traffic Control Failure Sparks Chaos

More than 1,900 flights have been cancelled across the UK over two days after a technical failure in the country’s air traffic control system triggered widespread disruption, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded and airlines struggling to recover their schedules.

The disruption began on Tuesday after an issue hit the flight processing system of National Air Traffic Services (NATS), which manages air traffic control at 15 UK airports. NATS said it identified the problem, implemented a fix and restored the system, but warned that recovery would take time. Its latest update said the incident had created difficulties across the aviation network.

The failure affected Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, while Dublin Airport also reported delays. Flights resumed on Wednesday, but passengers continued to face cancellations and delays as airlines dealt with misplaced aircraft, displaced crews and stranded travellers. Heathrow and other major airports urged passengers to check with airlines before travelling.

British Airways cancelled or diverted around 100 flights, affecting tens of thousands of passengers, while Ryanair said around 150,000 passengers were affected and more than 200 flights were initially cancelled. Ryanair later said its cancellations had risen above 250, with losses expected to run into millions.

NATS CEO Martin Rolfe apologised for the disruption and said a cyberattack had been ruled out. He defended the UK system as one of the safest and most resilient in the world, while saying a full investigation would establish what caused the failure. NATS said the problem was different from the failures behind major disruptions in 2023 and 2025.

Ryanair and Wizz Air have called for Rolfe to resign or be removed, accusing NATS of failing to learn from previous failures. Ryanair also criticised NATS for paying £175 million in dividends last year, arguing that money should instead be invested in technology and staffing.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has summoned Rolfe for an explanation and said she wants assurances that lessons will be learned and the systems supporting UK aviation are fit for purpose. The Civil Aviation Authority has also requested a full report from NATS and will consider further action.

The latest incident has intensified scrutiny of NATS, marking the third major disruption in just over three years, with airlines and passengers now facing further delays as normal operations are restored.