Is my flight delayed? Latest travel advice following UK airspace restrictions
HOLIDAYMAKERS are facing huge delays “up to 12 hours” due to a network-wide failure affecting UK airspace.
Here is everything you need to know about your flight.
Why are flights being delayed?
A number of flights are being delayed in and out of the UK due to a technical issue with Air Traffic Control.
National Air Traffic Controllers (NATS) said they are currently putting “traffic flow restrictions” in place.
NATS said in a statement: “We are currently experiencing a technical issue and have applied traffic flow restrictions to maintain safety.
“Engineers are working to find and fix the fault.”
Is my flight delayed?
A number of airlines have confirmed that flights will be affected in and out of the UK, although are yet to confirm how many or how long the delays will be.
EasyJet said in a statement: “We have been advised of an Air Traffic Control issue currently affecting all flights due to fly into and out of United Kingdom airspace.
“We are working with the relevant authorities to understand the impact of this issue and the timescale for normal operations to resume.”
Jet2 added: “UK Air Traffic Control are reporting a significant failure of their systems resulting in significant delays to all flights departing and returning to the UK.
“Further update to follow as soon as we have more information.”
And a British Airways spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “We are working closely with NATS to understand the impact of a technical issue that is affecting UK airspace, and will keep our customers up to date with the latest information.”
Ryanair has also issued new travel advice, reading: “Air traffic across the UK is experiencing significant disruptions today Aug. 28 due to ATC equipment failure.
“Ryanair regrets any inconvenience caused to passengers by this disruption, which is outside of Ryanair’s control.”
Passengers are currently claiming they are being delayed up to 12 hours.
TV presenter Gabby Logan, who was returning from Budapest, wrote on X: “I have just been told that the UK airspace is shut.
“We could be here for 12 hours. So we sit on the plane and wait.”
One passenger due to fly from Italy back to the UK said: “Any chance of an update, flight should have left an hour ago from Rome. Being told possible 12.5 hour delay but zero information on offer.”
Another traveller wrote: “Just informed by easyJet that my flight tonight is likely to be delayed by nearly 7 hours.
“Manchester to Prague. Apparently air traffic control system issue.”
According to data from Cirium, as many as 3,049 flights were due to take off from UK airports today, with another 3,054 flights due to arrive – working out to more than 1million seats.
Can I claim compensation if my flight is delayed?
If your flight is delayed, you can claim compensation between £220 and £520 depending on the length of the flight.
However, airlines can refuse compensation if they claim it was an “extraordinary circumstance”.
According to EU Regulation EC 261/2004, this includes bad weather, strikes or political circumstances such as terror attacks and natural disasters.