People should be aware of their rights if they have a trip coming up soon
Airlines have warned travellers should expect further disruption to journeys on Wednesday following a “technical issue” that grounded flights to and from some of the UK’s largest airports on Tuesday, including London Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Birmingham. (Image: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
A major airline disruption this week has caused widespread travel chaos due to a technical failure in the flight-processing system managed by National Air Traffic Services (NATS). The breakdown began on Tuesday afternoon (September 8), forcing air traffic controllers to process airline flight plans manually.
To maintain safety, NATS immediately imposed severe traffic restrictions, grounding departures nationwide. Because planes could not take off, major hubs like London Heathrow and Manchester quickly ran out of space for incoming flights, causing a massive knock-on effect of delays, cancellations, and diversions across Europe.
Thousands of holidaymakers were likely told at the last minute about the issue, leaving many out of pocket and waiting for a solution. Reports suggest that over 1,700 flights were cancelled on Tuesday alone.
This has led to hundreds more cancellations and widespread delays spilling into Wednesday (September 9) as airlines work to reposition planes and staff. Given that the issue has been confirmed via air traffic control, airlines can legally get away without paying customers any compensation for their missed flights – but that’s not to say that people are not entitled to any support or help.
The law states that passengers are owed ‘care and assistance’ during a major air traffic control failure. However, people are unlikely to get compensation for the delays.
This is because the technical failure would be legally classified as an “extraordinary circumstance” entirely outside the airline’s control. Despite no financial compensation, airlines must honour the right to rebook flights and take care of their passengers.
What could I be entitled to?
If your flight is delayed by more than two hours (short-haul) or up to four hours (long-haul), the airline must provide you with a few basic provisions, including:
- Food and drink: Usually given via airport vouchers.
- Communications: Means to make phone calls or send emails.
- Accommodation: A hotel room and transport to get there if you are delayed overnight.
Passengers can arrange their own reasonable hotel and meals and claim the money back. To do this, they must keep every receipt, avoid luxury options, and not buy alcohol, as airlines will reject those costs.
If your flight is cancelled or delayed by more than five hours, you have a choice. Airlines should attempt to book you onto their next available flight (if they cannot do this with their own fleet, another airline may be used).
If you choose not to travel anymore, you can get a full refund within seven days. Check with individual airlines about the process of organising this refund.
