London Gatwick – Over 100 flights to and from London Gatwick have been cancelled due to a staff shortage in the airport’s air traffic control tower, causing significant disruption for approximately 15,000 passengers and costing airlines millions of pounds. The shortage has resulted in temporary air traffic restrictions being imposed to ensure safety, according to Nats, the air-traffic control provider responsible for Gatwick’s operations.
The most heavily affected airline is EasyJet, which operates its main hub at Gatwick. The budget carrier saw at least 64 arrivals and departures grounded on one of the busiest days of the summer, including key holiday routes to destinations such as Heraklion, Crete, Naples, and Lisbon. British Airways, Vueling, Wizz Air, and other carriers were also impacted by the cancellations.
A Nats spokesperson cited short-notice staff absence in the control tower, coupled with ongoing weather restrictions across the UK and Europe, as the reason behind the disruption. “We apologise sincerely for the inconvenience and are working closely with the airport and airlines to try and keep disruption to a minimum,” the spokesperson added.
This incident marks the third time in just over a year that staffing issues have caused widespread flight cancellations at Gatwick, repeating similar problems experienced in 2023 and June 2024.
Passengers affected by the cancellations have been notified of their options to rebook or receive refunds, and airlines are providing hotel accommodations and meals where necessary. Under air passenger rights, stranded travellers are entitled to care, including food, accommodation, and alternative flights on any airline with available seats.
British Airways, in addition to its scheduled disruptions due to air traffic control issues, also cancelled evening flights to Bordeaux and Jersey. Other airlines affected include Vueling, which cancelled 16 flights, mainly to Spain, and Norwegian, which grounded flights to Bergen, Copenhagen, and Stavanger. Wizz Air’s flights to Vienna and Venice, as well as Turkish Airlines’ evening operations to and from Istanbul, were also axed.
A spokesperson for EasyJet expressed frustration with the repeated disruptions, stating, “We are extremely disappointed that customers are once again being impacted by this… We are doing all possible to minimise the impact of the disruption.”
Airlines are expected to face significant financial losses, not only from lost revenue but also from the obligation to cover hotel and meal costs for stranded passengers. The ongoing air traffic control crisis at Gatwick and Heathrow, where at least 300 flights have been cancelled since Friday, has reignited concerns about staffing issues and the broader impact on UK air travel.
Passengers are urged to contact their airlines for further information on their flights and available rebooking options.
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