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UK flight chaos is still causing disruption for Canary Islands passengers
The NATS technical failure that grounded more than 1,750 flights on Tuesday has been fixed, but the knock-on effects are far from over
The technical failure that brought British airspace to its knees on Tuesday has been resolved, but if you're flying between the Canary Islands and the UK today, don't assume the worst is behind you. Airlines are warning that disruption is continuing as aircraft and crew members find themselves stranded in the wrong locations following Tuesday's mass cancellations, and the ripple effects are expected to run through much of Thursday.The same NATS system failure caused significant chaos at Alicante airport on Tuesday evening, with around ten flights cancelled and more than a dozen delayed at the peak of the disruption.
The scale of the problem across the UK as a whole, however, was of a different order entirely. More than 1,750 flights were cancelled across the country, affecting Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Manchester and other major airports. Ryanair alone reported around 150,000 passengers affected and more than 200 flights cancelled. British Airways said approximately 100 of its flights were cancelled or diverted.
NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe has apologised and confirmed that investigators have ruled out a cyberattack, though that has done little to dampen criticism from airlines and the British government. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander summoned Rolfe for an explanation on Wednesday and said she wanted assurances that the systems underpinning Britain's aviation network were fit for purpose.
For passengers travelling between Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and UK airports, the key thing to understand is that your flight may be affected even if the problem appears to have nothing to do with your route. If the aircraft or crew scheduled to operate your service was displaced by Tuesday's cancellations, your flight could still be delayed or cancelled even if it was showing as on schedule earlier in the day.
Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted have all advised travellers to check their flight status directly with their airline before going to the airport. Anyone affected by a cancellation should contact their airline about rebooking, refunds and accommodation. Passenger rights to care and assistance may still apply, though entitlement to additional financial compensation will depend on the specific circumstances of each cancellation.
The advice for now is straightforward: keep checking, don't assume, and contact your airline directly.
Image: Henry Acevedo/Pexels
