UK air control chaos resolved but disruption expected to continue
U.K. travel was left in turmoil after Britain's air traffic control system suffered a major outage Monday, causing more than 1,500 flights to be canceled and thousands more delayed.
The mass disruption was caused by technical failures at National Air Traffic Control Services. This meant flight plans could not be properly processed, and instead, controllers needed to manually input them.
A statement released by NATS said: "The flight planning issue affected the system's ability to automatically process flight plans, meaning that flight plans had to be processed manually which cannot be done at the same volume, hence the requirement for traffic flow 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."
Related: TPG's guide to understanding EU261 flight compensation
Around 790 flights set to depart U.K airports were grounded, and 785 flights due to arrive in the U.K. were cancelled, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
The disruptions occurred during a bank holiday and one of the busiest days in the year for U.K. travel. It brought the worst flight disruption in the U.K. since 2010 following the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull.
While the issues have been resolved, the trickle-down effects have left many passengers stranded and numerous flights out of position as they work to get back on schedule.
A statement from Heathrow Airport (LHR) said: "Schedules continue to be affected by yesterday's restrictions on UK airspace. While the majority of passengers will still be able to travel, there will unfortunately be some disruption on some routes, including flight cancellations.
"It is important for all passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline before traveling to Heathrow. Teams across the airport continue to do everything they can to minimize the impact on passengers and support those whose journeys have been affected."
British Airways advises passengers to check their flight status online before traveling to the airport.
A spokesperson for the airline said: "Like other airlines operating in the UK, we are continuing to experience the knock-on effects of yesterday's NATS Air Traffic Control issue, which includes unavoidable delays and cancellations.
"Customers travelling today on short-haul services can move their flight to a later date free of charge if they wish, subject to availability. We've apologised for the huge inconvenience caused, which was outside of our control and thank our customers for their patience as we work hard to get back on track."
Virgin Atlantic emerged from the disruptions relatively unscathed, seeing the cancellation of only two flights, VS231 and VS232, between Heathrow and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson confirmed to TPG that the airline expects to operate a full schedule Tuesday and isn't expecting any significant delays. However, the airline advised anyone due to travel to check their flight status in advance.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's "Today" program, U.K. Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper warned that the disruption could take "some days to get completely everybody back to where they should be."
In the same interview, Harper also confirmed that the disruption is not believed to have been caused by a cyber attack.
My flight was disrupted. Can I claim compensation?
Unfortunately not. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the NATS disruption falls under "extraordinary circumstances," meaning that passengers affected are unlikely to receive any compensation for their woes.
However, all is not lost. If your flight was canceled or significantly delayed, airlines must place you on the next flight to your destination free of charge (regardless of whether it is with a different carrier).
Airlines will also be expected to provide vouchers for passengers to buy food and drink and, where necessary, pay for transport or accommodation costs incurred due to the disruption.
The CAA advises that passengers can organize reasonable care and assistance themselves and claim back the costs at a later date.
"If you end up paying for things yourself, keep every receipt and do not spend more than is reasonable. Airlines are unlikely to refund you for things like luxury hotels or alcohol. Some will provide guidance on reasonable costs," read a statement from the CAA.
It further said that any passengers who are unhappy with the length of time it takes for either a reimbursement or response from their airline should visit this section of their website on how to make a complaint.
For more information on your rights as a passenger during cancellations and disruptions, please check out our guide to EU21 flight compensation.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees