#Nats

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Air traffic control issues LIVE as hundreds of flights delayed across Manchester Airport and UK

Nearly 100 flights are delays at Manchester Airport with UK flights affected by the airspace restrictions

en.killbait.com

Airlines voice concerns over repeated air traffic control failures as UK flights face disruption

Airlines have expressed significant criticism towards the UK's air traffic control system following a second technical malfunction within a two-week period, causing widespread disruption to flights across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England. EasyJet and Wizz Air were among the carriers that highlighted the 'resilience' of the system, with Wizz Air's UK managing director Yvonne Moynihan describing a 'national confidence crisis' in National Air Traffic Services (Nats), which operates the UK's air traffic infrastructure. The incident, originating from a connectivity issue at Prestwick in Ayrshire, led to the cancellation of at least 200 flights as of 13:45 BST on Monday, including 100 arrivals and 99 departures. EasyJet was particularly affected, with 47 of its 670 scheduled departures cancelled, while British Airways reported 11 cancellations from 513 scheduled flights. Nats attributed the disruption to a 'connectivity issue' at Prestwick, stating it was unrelated to a separate software defect at Swanwick that caused 2,000 flight cancellations earlier in September. The UK Civil Aviation Authority clarified that passengers affected by the disruption are unlikely to receive compensation, as the incident falls under 'extraordinary circumstances' under passenger rights regulations. Industry body Airlines UK stated that both passengers and airlines 'deserve better' service following 'yet another Nats failure.' Wizz Air's Moynihan called for 'urgent reform' of Nats, questioning the leadership of chief executive Martin Rolfe, who has refused to resign despite mounting pressure. Ryanair reiterated its demand for Rolfe's resignation, stating he had failed to deliver 'either a reliable system or an effective back-up.' Nats spokesperson apologised for the disruption, emphasising that safety remains their 'first priority,' and confirmed that the underlying issue has been resolved, with operations now running at 'full capacity.' Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged the 'deeply frustrating' nature of the disruptions for passengers, while passengers like Steve Davies and Nicole McCloskey shared their experiences of being stranded at airports or having family trips cancelled. This incident marks the second major failure at Nats within a fortnight, with the previous incident at Swanwick affecting intercontinental travel and leading to hundreds of thousands of passengers being impacted. Nats has two main control centres: Swanwick, which manages southern UK airspace, and Prestwick, responsible for northern England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, handling approximately 42% of UK air traffic. The repeated technical issues have intensified scrutiny on Nats' management and infrastructure, with calls for urgent action to prevent further disruptions.

aviationnews.eu

British Airspace Faces Renewed Turmoil as Technical Fault Hits NATS Control Centre in Scotland

AviationNews – A network connectivity failure at the NATS air traffic control centre in Prestwick triggered fresh flight cancellations and widespread delays across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England on Monday. The incident has intensified industry fury toward Britain’s primary navigation service provider after a second high-profile disruption struck within two weeks. The outage hit the Scottish control facility early on Monday morning, forcing flight planners to restrict traffic flows across northern sectors to maintain airborne separation and safety.

www.easterneye.biz

Fresh NATS failure sparks UK flight chaos as calls for boss to quit grow

Passengers faced fresh chaos on Monday as a second NATS failure in two weeks hit UK airports, with 25,000 Ryanair customers delayed and airlines renewing furious calls for chief executive Martin Rolfe...

en.killbait.com

UK Air Traffic Control Issues Cause Flight Delays Across Multiple Airports

On Monday morning, passengers at UK airports faced significant disruptions as a technical issue at National Air Traffic Services (Nats) Prestwick centre led to delays for dozens of flights. This marks the second major air traffic control failure within a month, following a 'software defect' that caused widespread disruption earlier this month, grounding over 2,000 flights. Airlines including Ryanair, EasyJet, and British Airways have issued warnings about potential delays, with Manchester, Belfast, Glasgow, and Aberdeen airports among those affected. Nats confirmed the issue has been resolved but urged passengers to check with their airlines for the latest flight status. The disruption has prompted criticism from airlines, with Jet2 demanding urgent action and calling for improved system resilience. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged the frustration caused to passengers and noted that some delays may persist as systems reset. AGS Airports, which manages Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Southampton airports, expressed disappointment at the recurring issues, stating it was the second time in two weeks that Nats' technical problems had impacted their operations. The airline industry has raised concerns about the reliability of Nats' systems, with EasyJet stating the latest incident 'calls into question the resilience of Nats' systems.' Passengers are advised to check flight information via airline apps or websites before traveling, as the situation continues to evolve.

www.theguardian.com

Flights delayed and cancelled in parts of UK after latest air traffic issue

Nats says fault at Prestwick has been ‘fixed’ after airports in Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland are hit

www.theguardian.com

Flights delayed and cancelled in parts of UK after latest air traffic issue

Nats says fault at Prestwick has been ‘fixed’ after airports in Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland are hit