Heathrow Airport warns companies will ‘stay considerably disrupted’ after UK air site visitors management fault

Aug 29, 2023 at 1:51 AM
Heathrow Airport warns companies will ‘stay considerably disrupted’ after UK air site visitors management fault

Heathrow Airport has mentioned its companies will “remain significantly disrupted” on Tuesday after air site visitors controllers throughout the UK skilled a technical fault.

In a press release concerning the “technical issues” that affected the National Air Traffic Services (NATS), Britain’s busiest airport urged passengers to contact their airline earlier than travelling to the airport.

“The issue has been resolved, however schedules remain significantly disrupted,” it mentioned.

“If you are travelling on 29th August, please ensure you contact your airline before travelling to the airport.”

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London Gatwick has mentioned it plans to function a standard schedule on Tuesday following the disruption.

However, passengers have been suggested to test the standing of their flight with their airline earlier than travelling to the airport.

London Stansted additionally mentioned it deliberate to run a standard flight schedule on Tuesday, however added “our terminal may be busier than anticipated”.

And main UK airways similar to Tui and BA warned of “significant delays” for passengers amid adjustments to schedules.

By Monday afternoon 232 flights departing UK airports had been cancelled together with 271 arriving flights, in accordance with aviation analytics agency Cirium. It equates to about 8% of all anticipated departures and 9% of anticipated arrivals, Cirium added.

The technical fault meant flight plans needed to be enter manually by controllers.

Read extra:
What we know about system failure and how it’s affecting flights

What have airports mentioned concerning the disruption?

While NATS has confirmed it has fastened the technical challenge with the UK’s air site visitors management system, airports have warned the disruption it has precipitated will proceed. Here’s what a few of them have mentioned.

London Luton Airport: “The earlier technical issue with air traffic control systems has now been resolved, however widespread disruption continues across UK airspace.”

Manchester Airport: “As a result of the nationwide technical problem experienced by NATS earlier today, there continues to be flight disruption, including delays and cancellations.”

Newcastle International Airport: “We understand that the technical issue with National Air Traffic Services is now resolved, but it will take some time for operations to get back to normal.”

London Stansted Airport expects to run a standard flight schedule on Tuesday 29 August, following the nationwide technical challenge that affected air site visitors management. We do nonetheless advise passengers to test the standing of their flight with their airline earlier than travelling to the airport. As our airways look to accommodate passengers whose journey plans have been disrupted over the previous 24 hours, our terminal could also be busier than anticipated.
Our groups might be working with our airways and their handing brokers to get you thru the airport as easily as doable. Thank-you on your understanding.

Heathrow Airport: We apologise for any inconvenience because of the NATS technical points at present. The challenge has been resolved nonetheless schedules stay considerably disrupted. If you might be travelling on twenty ninth August, please make sure you contact your airline earlier than travelling to the airport.

Gatwick Airport plans to function a standard schedule on Tuesday 29 August following disruption at present (28 August). Passengers are nonetheless suggested to test the standing of their flight with the airline earlier than travelling to the airport.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper mentioned on Monday that “despite resolving the technical issue behind today’s air traffic control issues, flights are still unfortunately affected”.

He mentioned he would encourage all passengers to learn the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s steering and “be aware of their rights when flights are delayed or cancelled”.

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Technical challenge ‘remedied’ however travellers face continued disruption

Earlier on Monday NATS mentioned the “technical issue” affecting its flight planning system had been “identified and remedied”, however travellers continued to face disruption.

“We are now working closely with airlines and airports to manage the flights affected as efficiently as possible,” NATS mentioned.

“Our engineers will be carefully monitoring the system’s performance as we return to normal operations.

“The flight planning challenge affected the system’s skill to routinely course of flight plans, which means that flight plans needed to be processed manually which can’t be performed on the similar quantity, therefore the requirement for site visitors circulate restrictions.

“Our priority is always to ensure that every flight in the UK remains safe and we are sincerely sorry for the disruption this is causing. Please contact your airline for information on how this may affect your flight.”