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UK flights resume after air traffic control glitch causes disruption | UK News

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Flights have resumed after an air traffic control problem caused widespread disruption.

The National Air Traffic Service (NATS) apologised and said the glitch happened at 4.05pm at its Swanwick control centre but the system was restored 20 minutes later.

“This was a radar-related issue which was resolved by quickly switching to the back up system during which time we reduced traffic to ensure safety,” said a spokesperson.

“There is no evidence that this was cyber related.”

UK airports latest: BA warns of disruption to flights

Gatwick said earlier the issue was “affecting all outbound flights across the UK”, while Birmingham Airport said “departing flights from many UK airports have been suspended”.

Just after 5pm, NATS said departures at all airports had restarted and it was working to clear the backlog.

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1:01

Departures resume after ATC problem

Some 67 departures and 55 arrivals were cancelled across the country as of 7.30pm, according to analytics firm Cirum Aviation.

John Carr, from Stourbridge, was on his way from Heathrow to Norway to help arrange his brother’s wedding when he discovered his flight was cancelled after checking in.

“I’m pretty gutted,” he said.

“We’ve got loads of stuff in the suitcases to set up the venue, because we’re obviously flying to Norway. We’ve got the wedding rehearsal to do. It’s quite stressful.”

A Heathrow spokesperson advised passengers to check with their airline before travelling.

Flightradar24.com reported an average delay of 48 minutes at Heathrow for departing aircraft at 5.30pm, an hour after NATS restored its systems, and said 89% of flights were suffering delays.

Paul Charles, a travel expert and boss of a luxury travel group, told Sky News it was “a major outage”.

He said it would take time to get operations back to normal, and that long-haul flights would be prioritised.

“Long-haul traffic above short-haul traffic usually, because those long-haul aircraft are carrying more passengers,” he said.

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5:06

Travel expert: This is a major outage

Airlines criticise ‘outrageous’ disruption

British Airways was restricting inbound and outbound flights at Heathrow to 32 an hour, but said they would return to the usual rate of 45 from 7.15pm.

There was anger from some airlines over the outage.

Ryanair called for NATS’ chief executive, Martin Rolfe, to resign.

The airline claimed “no lessons have been learnt” since the August 2023 outage affecting NATS’ flight planning system, which grounded flights and disrupted trips for more than 700,000 passengers.

Chief operating officer Neal McMahon called Wednesday’s fault “outrageous”.

“Yet another ATC system failure has resulted in the closure of UK airspace, meaning thousands of passengers’ travel plans have been disrupted,” he said.

Easyjet‘s chief operating officer, David Morgan, also struck a sombre tone.

“It’s extremely disappointing to see an ATC failure once again causing disruption to our customers at this busy and important time of year for travel,” he said.

Mr Morgan said he wanted to know what NATS is doing to “ensure issues don’t continue”.

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0:50

Britons were left stranded across Europe after a glitch in August 2023

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for an urgent investigation and also referred to the “utterly unacceptable” disruption two years earlier.

“With thousands of families preparing to go on a well-earned break, this just isn’t good enough. The public deserve to have full confidence in such a vital piece of national infrastructure.”

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Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was aware of the issue, but said “continued disruption is expected and passengers should check with individual airports for advice”.

Flights departing or arriving at a UK airport, or aircraft operated by a UK airline arriving in the EU, are subject to rules concerning delays or cancellations.

Airlines may have to provide compensation, although there are exemptions for “extraordinary circumstances”, according to the CAA (UK Civil Aviation Authority).



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IndiGo celebrates 19 years; announces daily London Heathrow flights starting October 2025

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IndiGo has marked 19 years of successful operations with the announcement of major international expansion plans, most notably the launch of daily, direct flights from India to London Heathrow, starting October 26, 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. Operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft under a damp-lease arrangement with Norse Atlantic Airways, this new route marks a significant step in IndiGo’s long-haul ambitions.

The addition of five more Dreamliners this financial year will allow the airline to further strengthen its global footprint. Bookings for the London route will open soon.

IndiGo also announced product upgrades on key international routes. Starting August 09, 2025, IndiGo will start offering its tailor-made business product, IndiGoStretch on flights connecting Singapore to Delhi and Mumbai, as it will operate its two-class A321 aircraft on the routes. Similarly, the airline will introduce IndiGoStretch on flights between Delhi and Dubai from August 30, 2025, and flights between Mumbai and Dubai starting September 03, 2025.

The airline was recently recognised at the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards as the ‘Best Airline in India and South Asia’ and the ‘Cleanest Airline in India & South Asia.’

Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, “As we celebrate IndiGo’s 19th anniversary, we are immensely proud of the journey we have had so far and equally excited about the way ahead. The love and support of millions of our customers, coupled with the shared passion and drive of more than 66,000 IndiGo employees, has fueled our flight towards new heights and across new frontiers. Today, we are delighted to announce our next strides in international markets, especially our daily, direct flights to London Heathrow. Looking ahead, we are hopeful to continue winning hearts and accolades in India as well as globally, as we expand our operations across the globe, one airport at a time.”

The airline’s international push includes recent launches to Manchester and Amsterdam, new MoUs with major global carriers like Delta, Air France-KLM, Virgin Atlantic, and upcoming operations to Copenhagen, Athens, and Siem Reap. IndiGo has also placed a firm order for 30 Airbus A350s, boosting its wide-body fleet order to 60.

 



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More Than 30 New Flights Cancelled Across Canada as Air Canada, WestJet, and Others Face Disruptions in Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec Due to Adverse Weather

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Monday, August 4, 2025

Over 30 new flights have been cancelled today in Canada due to severe weather in Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec that is disrupting operations for Air Canada, WestJet, and other airlines. Strong winds, smog, and poor visibility have been hindering airlines’ abilities to stick to schedules, leading to widespread cancellations and delays. In the northeastern region of Canada, the overwhelming storms have been adding to operational difficulties as services, both domestic and international, are significantly impacted. In addition, the persistent storms are creating more operational headaches.

More than 35 flights have been cancelled across Canada today, as adverse weather conditions, including strong winds, smog, and poor visibility, have severely disrupted air travel. Major carriers such as Air Canada, WestJet, and several others are facing significant travel disruptions on routes in Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. At Toronto Pearson International Airport in Ontario, 22 flights were cancelled (with 7% of Air Canada’s flights and 9% of WestJet’s flights affected), and 101 flights have been delayed, impacting a variety of domestic and international services. Similarly, Vancouver International Airport in British Columbia experienced 7 cancellations and 47 delays, with Air Canada and WestJet once again seeing the most significant disruptions. At Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport in Quebec, 6 flights were cancelled (including 40% of Jazz Airlines’ flights) and 5 flights were delayed due to adverse conditions. These weather disturbances have made it difficult for airlines to maintain their schedules, leaving passengers stranded and awaiting rebookings as the stormy weather continues to impact operations across the country.

Flight Cancellations and Delays Due to Weather

The weather disturbances, including strong winds, smog, and poor visibility, have forced several airlines to cancel scheduled flights, leading to widespread travel disruptions.

At Toronto Pearson International Airport in Ontario, 22 flights have been cancelled, and 101 flights have been delayed. Air Canada and WestJet, two of the largest carriers in the country, have reported the highest number of cancellations, with Air Canada alone accounting for 7% of the cancellations. Similarly, Vancouver International Airport in British Columbia has seen 7 cancellations and 47 delays. Adverse conditions, particularly strong winds and low visibility, have grounded several flights, especially on international and regional routes.

In Quebec, particularly at Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport, 6 flights have been cancelled, and 5 flights have been delayed due to weather-related disruptions. Heavy winds and low visibility have made it difficult for airlines to maintain their schedules, further compounding the travel issues throughout the day.

Airlines Affected

  • Air Canada has experienced significant disruptions, with flights delayed across several routes in Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. Cancellations are primarily affecting both domestic and international flights, as the airline works to mitigate the impact of the weather conditions.
  • WestJet has also been heavily impacted, with multiple routes cancelled, including some connecting Ontario to British Columbia. Their regional services in Quebec have also been disrupted.
  • Other airlines, including Jazz, Porter Airlines, Air Transat, and American Airlines, have also seen cancellations. Air Canada Rouge, a subsidiary of Air Canada, reported cancellations on several routes, including those connecting to international destinations.

Cause of Disruptions

The disruptions are mainly attributed to poor weather conditions, including smog in Ontario, heavy winds in British Columbia, and a combination of rain and fog in Quebec. These conditions have made it challenging for planes to land safely, resulting in the cancellations. The weather has also led to a backlog of passengers at airports, as several flights have been delayed or rescheduled.

Impact on Travelers

The impact on travelers has been considerable. Many passengers have been left stranded at airports in Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec, awaiting rebooking on later flights. Airport staff are working tirelessly to assist affected passengers, but long wait times and crowded terminals are expected to persist as airlines try to accommodate those whose flights have been disrupted.

Looking Ahead

While the weather is expected to improve over the next few hours, the ripple effect from today’s cancellations may continue into tomorrow. Travelers are advised to check with airlines for updates on their flights and be prepared for potential delays and further cancellations.

Both Air Canada and WestJet are actively working on rebooking affected passengers, with priority given to those whose flights have been cancelled due to weather. Airline representatives have urged travelers to check their flight status online before heading to the airport.

More than 30 new flights have been cancelled across Canada today as Air Canada, WestJet, and other airlines face significant disruptions in Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec due to adverse weather conditions, including strong winds, smog, and poor visibility, which have led to unsafe flying conditions.

More than 30 flights have been cancelled today across key airports in Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. Air Canada, WestJet, and other airlines continue to experience significant disruptions due to adverse weather conditions. Passengers are encouraged to stay informed and prepared for further travel impacts, as airlines work to recover from the delays and cancellations caused by the stormy weather across Canada.



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India Becomes World’s 5th Largest Air Travel Market in 2024

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The International Airport Transport Association (IATA), which represents around 350 airlines, on Monday released the latest edition of the World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) for 2024.

Last Updated : 04 August 2025, 16:02 IST

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