UK airports face more disruption after air traffic control glitch with 250 flights axed

Almost 1,100 flights to and from UK airports were cancelled on Tuesday due to a technical issue at the country's air traffic control service, NATS. A total of 1,055 flights had been cancelled by 8pm, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24. NATS said the system issue was now resolved and they are operating normally, working hard to clear the backlog of flights.

This follows a similar technical glitch in July last year that saw scores of flights cancelled and angered airline executives. Heathrow Airport and Gatwick, Britain's two largest airports, were among those affected on Tuesday. Gatwick Airport worker Josie Donoghue described the situation as "an absolute nightmare", having to disembark her flight to Ireland after three hours stuck on the runway.

Liverpool, Birmingham, and Edinburgh airports were also impacted, along with Dublin Airport in Ireland which cancelled dozens of flights. British Airways cancelled or diverted over 100 flights, affecting tens of thousands of its customers. Ryanair reported more than 65,000 passengers disrupted and cancelled over 50 flights. Arsenal's match against Napoli in Italy had to cancel a press conference due to the delayed flight for the team.

British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander sought assurances that lessons would be learned and systems supporting aviation are up to the job. Ryanair's COO Neal McMahon called for NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe to be fired, accusing him of failing UK travellers and demanding the UK government intervene.