More than 2,000 flights were cancelled at UK airports on September 9 and 10, 2026, following a technical failure at the National Air Traffic Service’s (NATS) air traffic control system. The disruption severely affected major airports including Heathrow and Gatwick.
On Tuesday, more than 1,750 flights were cancelled, with an additional 150 cancellations scheduled for Wednesday, according to data from www.travelmarketreport.com. Ryanair reported approximately 150,000 passengers impacted, while British Airways cancelled or diverted around 100 flights, affecting tens of thousands of customers.
Traveller guidance amid ongoing delays
The disruption displaced aircraft and crews across Europe, leading to knock-on effects that continue to affect flight operations
beyond the initial incident day. Travel advisors are cautioned against assuming London flights have returned to normal despite improvements. Heathrow and Gatwick remain particularly affected hubs.
Passengers are advised to verify their flight status given the ongoing impact on flights and European connections stemming from the displaced resources.
Cause and continuing operational impacts
The technical fault responsible was confirmed to originate within the NATS air traffic control system. No evidence has been reported indicating a cyberattack or other external interference as the cause.
The scale of cancellations and delays surpassed early estimates. The disruption’s effects have extended across UK airports and into the broader European
network due to the repositioning of aircraft and crews.
