Air visitors management service NATS has responded to the disruption.

A NATS spokeswoman stated air visitors management restrictions had been put in place this afternoon resulting from a brief discover workers absence affecting its air visitors management group at Gatwick Airport.

The spokeswoman added: "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.

"We are working carefully with Gatwick Airport Ltd to construct resilience within the airport’s management tower to make sure disruption is stored to a minimal.

"New air traffic controllers have been recruited since last summer, increasing our presence by 17 percent, and others are due to start after completing their training, in line with the agreed plan when NATS took over the contract last October.

"London Gatwick’s senior administration understands that we're working arduous to maintain the operation shifting. Airlines working at London Gatwick had been conscious of the scenario when NATS was appointed however that doesn't dilute the apology we provide sincerely to them and their passengers who've been inconvenienced by current disruption."