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British Airports Restart Flights After Air Traffic Control Failure, Disruptions Persist

By AFP

Flights from airports across the United Kingdom resumed early Wednesday, September 9, 2026, following a major air traffic control system failure a day earlier, though officials cautioned that normal operations would take time to resume as aircraft remained out of position.

The breakdown on Tuesday, September 8, lasted several hours and led to the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights, stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers. The incident has intensified scrutiny of air traffic control provider NATS and its chief executive, Martin Rolfe.

Ryanair, Europe's largest airline, had previously demanded Rolfe's resignation over his handling of a similar system failure in August 2023, which cost airlines £100 million ($135 million) in cancellations at the time.

As flights began operating again, Heathrow Airport advised travelers to confirm their flight status with airlines before arriving, noting that schedules had shifted because of Tuesday's disruption. In a statement, the UK's busiest airport said it anticipated continued knock-on effects as aircraft and crew members worked to get back into position. The airport said it was collaborating closely with its local NATS team and airline partners to restore normal operations as swiftly as possible, while acknowledging the frustration the situation had caused.

London Gatwick, the country's second-busiest airport, issued similar guidance, urging passengers to check with their airlines beforehand.

Ryanair reported that approximately 150,000 of its customers were affected after the airline canceled more than 200 flights. British Airways said it canceled or diverted 100 flights, impacting tens of thousands of passengers.