On Tuesday, 25 October 2026, over 1,000 flights were canceled across the United Kingdom, with London Heathrow and Gatwick airports among the hardest hit. The widescale cancellations disrupted travel nationwide and triggered extensive delays at 15 UK airports.
Impact on British Airways, Ryanair, and EasyJet
British Airways canceled or diverted more than 100 flights amid the disruption. Ryanair called off over 50 scheduled flights, affecting upwards of 65,000 passengers, while EasyJet reported some flights could not operate due to the system failure. Passengers on British Airways endured delays of up to four hours, with flight attendants serving meals such as pasta and chicken curry during long waiting
periods.
Cause and Resolution of Disruption
National Air Traffic Services (NATS) attributed the widespread cancellations and delays to a failure in its air traffic control flight processing system. The issue was beyond the control of airlines and airports. The system malfunction was resolved by evening, according to NATS, but the disruption generated a significant backlog affecting subsequent flight schedules.
Passenger Experience and Statements
Thousands of passengers were left stranded on aircraft and in terminal buildings, some experiencing delays up to three or four hours. At Gatwick, passengers endured up to three hours on planes before cancellations. Reports indicated chaotic scenes at baggage claim areas, with minimal immediate assistance. A
British Airways spokesperson said, “The severity of the issue means there will be a significant knock-on impact. This incident was entirely out of our control and incredibly frustrating for our customers and colleagues, with aircraft and crews ending up out of place.” Passenger Josie Donoghue described the situation at Gatwick as “an absolute nightmare” and compared passing through the airport to “trying to get out of Alcatraz.”
Other Affected Airports and Traveler Information
Besides Heathrow and Gatwick, airports at Stansted, London City, Manchester, Birmingham, and various locations in Scotland also reported delays and cancellations. Travelers were urged to verify flight statuses directly due to ongoing disruptions
following the backlog clearing process.
