More than 20 flights have been cancelled, with others delayed or diverted due to a scarcity of employees in air site visitors management at Gatwick Airport.

The airport apologised for "any inconvenience caused" and urged passengers to contact their airline.

A spokesperson for Gatwick Airport confirmed "22 flights have been cancelled" however stated "the situation is however improving with an additional air traffic controller now in place."

"The air traffic control restrictions are reducing as a consequence and more aircraft are able to arrive and depart," they stated.

National Air Traffic Services (NATS) had earlier stated "air traffic control restrictions have been put in place" as a result of "a short notice staff absence" affecting the air site visitors management workforce at Gatwick.

"We are working closely with the airport to ensure we can handle flights with as little disruption as possible and we apologise very sincerely to people who have been inconvenienced [as a result of unavoidable diversions]," they stated.

The Sussex airport added in an announcement: "NATS are a world-class supplier of air site visitors companies and London Gatwick's senior administration recognises how laborious the airport's air site visitors controllers are working to maintain the operation shifting.

"We are working closely with NATS to build resilience in the airport's control tower to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum."

One particular person complained on social media {that a} flight had been diverted to Bournemouth airport, whereas one other stated they needed to take off from London Stansted.

What are passengers' rights when airways cancel flights?

Airlines have an obligation to maintain passengers comfy within the occasion of a "significant delay" - with the Civil Aviation Authority setting out a transparent definition of what meets this threshold.

You qualify for help if a short-haul flight below 932 miles (1,500km) is pushed again by two hours. This rises to 3 hours for journeys as much as 2,175 miles (3,500km).

For long-haul flights going any additional, 4 hours or longer counts as a major delay.

In the occasion of a major delay, airways should give passengers:

• An inexpensive quantity of food and drinks

• Refunds for the price of two free telephone calls, faxes or emails

• Accommodation for passengers stranded in a single day

• Transport to a lodge - or their dwelling

If airways are unable to organise help in a well timed method, the Civil Aviation Authority says affected shoppers have the suitable to make their very own "reasonable" preparations - however they need to hold receipts so as to be reimbursed.

Typically, airways have to supply compensation if their flights arrive three hours late - however staffing points with air site visitors management probably don't depend as a result of such points are usually not their fault.

If you comply with journey on a later flight, the airline is not obliged to supply meals, drink or lodging when you wait. But they're entitled to a full refund in the event that they determine to desert their journey after 5 hours of delays.

Bank vacation disruption

It comes after the NATS management system for all the UK was hit by a technical glitch over the bank holiday weekend, inflicting widespread disruption.

More than 1 / 4 of flights to and from UK airports have been cancelled, affecting round 250,000 folks.

Cancellations continued for 2 extra days as planes and crew have been out of place.

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Rory Boland, of shopper group Which?, stated: "It is unacceptable that some Gatwick passengers have been hit by further air traffic control problems so soon after the chaos a few weeks ago.

"This will not be a difficulty attributable to airways, however they need to meet their authorized obligations to take care of passengers and supply them with help throughout delays and assist with refunds and re-routing - together with with different carriers if vital.

"To help end this cycle of miserable passenger experiences, the prime minister must play his part and prioritise legislation to give the Civil Aviation Authority stronger enforcement powers."