Blunder by French airline that may have sparked air traffic control chaos is being probed with delays set to last a WEEK | The Sun

A BLUNDER by a French airline may have sparked the air traffic control chaos in the UK which has left thousands of holidaymakers stranded, sources say.

Airport delays could last up for a week after National Air Traffic Services (NATS) yesterday suffered a “technical issues”.

By yesterday afternoon they said the issue had been resolved – but the knock-on disruption means many Brits are still trapped abroad.

Now its been revealed that the government sources and aviation officials ruled out a cyberattack. 

And sources are now suggesting the issue could be the result of an incorrectly filed plan by a French airline, reports The Times.

On Monday Juliet Kennedy, operations director at Nats, said the issue meant the automatic system that provides controllers with details of every aircraft and its route had stopped working, and what happened will be investigated "very thoroughly".

She also apologised for the impact on people's travel plans.

Ms Kennedy added: "The issue we had earlier meant that our automatic system, which provides controllers with details of every aircraft and its route, wasn't working. Instead, to manage safety, we had to limit the number of flights we could manage.

"Our teams worked hard to resolve the problem, and I'm pleased to say it was fixed earlier on this afternoon. However, it will take some time for flights to return to normal.

"And we will continue to work with the airlines and the airports to recover the situation. Our absolute priority is safety and we will be investigating very thoroughly what happened today.

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"Again, I would like to apologise for the impact on the travelling public and to tell you that our teams will continue to work to get you on your way as soon as we can."

Have you been stranded by cancelled flights? We want to hear your story. Contact [email protected]

According to The Sun's travel editor, the issue "could not have come at a worse time" and disruption will likely continue into the week.

Lisa Minot said: "This is actually the busiest weekend since October 2019.

"The fact that it has gone on for so long means this is going to definitely start to impact flights all the way into next week.

"It's going to impact flights across the globe. I'm already seeing flights that were due to be landing here into the UK from places now not showing up until 7am or 8am tomorrow morning, and that's if they actually go ahead."

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

If you're flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.

You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven't used yet.

So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.

But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.

When am I not entitled to compensation?

The airline doesn't have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.

Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.

Some airlines may stretch the definition of the "extraordinary circumstances" but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Can I get a refund if my connecting flight is cancelled?

If you missed your connecting flight because your first flight was delayed, you are entitled to a flight back to your original departure point.

Once you decide to take a refund or to travel later than the first available flight, your airline has no obligation to provide you with food, drink or accommodation.

If you are on a package holiday and you decide not to travel on your outbound flight, you may lose your holiday too, we recommend you contact your package organiser or the airline for further information.

Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?

If you can't claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.

Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.

Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

If your flight is cancelled entirely, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance.

How can I find out if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

The best way to check if your flights are cancelled are to find to the website of the airport you are flying out of to find your flight number.

It's understood issues first arose around 8.30am yesterday.

Not all flights were grounded with NATS only putting "traffic flow restrictions" in place.

Passengers were last night urged by airlines to check before they leave for the airport as their flight times may have changed.

Heathrow Airport tweeted on Monday night: "We apologise for any inconvenience as a result of the Nats technical issues today.

"The issue has been resolved however schedules remain significantly disrupted. If you are travelling on 29th August, please ensure you contact your airline before travelling to the airport."

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Gatwick said it plans to operate a normal schedule on Tuesday, but advised passengers to "check the status of their flight with the airline before travelling to the airport".

The Sun had contacted NATS for comment.

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