Over 2,000 flights to and from UK airports were cancelled on September 8 and 9, 2026, following a technical failure at the National Air Traffic Service (NATS). On September 8 alone, more than 1,750 flights were cancelled, with an additional 150 cancellations on September 9, according to data from Cirium.
Airports and Airlines Impacted
London Heathrow Airport recorded the highest number of cancellations with 182 flights cancelled on September 8. Other major airports affected include Gatwick, Manchester, Luton, and Edinburgh. Ryanair reported that approximately 150,000 passengers faced disruptions across the UK. British Airways cancelled or diverted around 100 flights during the two-day period, affecting
tens of thousands of customers.
Travel Advisory and Ongoing Effects
Passengers scheduled to travel through Heathrow and Gatwick on September 9 were advised to verify their flight status due to lingering disruption. The initial system failure displaced aircraft and crews across Europe, generating continuing knock-on effects beyond UK airspace. Travel advisors were urged to closely monitor flight information and consider potential impacts on onward European connections resulting from this resource displacement.
The technical failure in the NATS air traffic control system is under investigation. It disrupted flight schedules across at least 15 UK airports, leading to widespread cancellations and delays starting on September 8, 2026.
Recovery efforts remained ongoing as the cause was reviewed without further details released.
