LONDON — September 9, 2026 — Travel chaos has continued across the UK after a technical failure affecting the country’s air traffic-control system triggered a second day of widespread cancellations and delays.
Around 300 additional flights were cancelled on Wednesday morning, according to reports, adding to the disruption from Tuesday, when hundreds of flights were already cancelled. The knock-on effects have left passengers stranded at airports and disrupted schedules across the UK and Europe.
Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham have been among the airports hit hardest. On Tuesday alone, flight-tracking data showed hundreds of cancellations and significant delays at the major hubs.
The disruption began after NATS, the UK’s air traffic-control provider, experienced a technical problem in its flight-processing system. Engineers implemented a fix, but warned that restoring normal operations would take time.
😴 Passengers forced to sleep at airports
The continuing disruption has forced some travellers to spend the night inside terminals, with reports showing passengers sleeping on airport floors and using makeshift bedding while waiting for information about their journeys.
Ryanair said more than 65,000 of its passengers had been affected during Tuesday’s disruption, while the airline criticised NATS over the handling of the incident.
⚠️ Airlines warn passengers
Airlines and airports are advising travellers to check their flight status before travelling to the airport and to allow extra time for their journeys.
With cancellations continuing into Wednesday, passengers are being warned that the disruption could take time to fully clear as aircraft and crews are repositioned around the network.
