Passengers flying to and from Gatwick Airport have faced significant disruption Sunday 8th September 2024 as airlines were forced to cancel or delay flights due to a combination of air-traffic control staffing shortages and adverse weather conditions.

A spokesperson for easyJet expressed frustration with the situation, stating: “NATS air-traffic control staffing shortages at Gatwick led to a significantly reduced flow rate being imposed on all airlines today, which is resulting in flights to and from Gatwick airport being subject to disruption, including some cancellations. We are extremely disappointed that customers are once again being impacted by this, and while this is outside of our control, we are sorry for the inconvenience caused.”

EasyJet, alongside several other airlines, has been heavily impacted, with flights cancelled or delayed throughout the day. The spokesperson added, “We are doing all possible to minimise the impact of the disruption and have notified those on cancelled flights of their options to rebook or receive a refund, and are providing hotel accommodation and meals where required.”

British Airways and other airlines such as Vueling, Norwegian, Wizz Air, and Turkish Airlines also had to cancel flights. British Airways grounded its evening flights to Bordeaux and Jersey, while Vueling cancelled 16 flights, primarily servicing Spanish destinations. Norwegian halted flights to Bergen, Copenhagen, and Stavanger, with Wizz Air grounding flights to Vienna and Venice.

In addition to the staff shortages, adverse weather across the UK and Europe has exacerbated the situation. A spokesperson for Gatwick Airport commented: “Due to short-notice absence in the air-traffic control tower, temporary restrictions have been put in place today, in addition to existing restrictions in place due to adverse weather across the UK and Europe. These may result in some delays and cancellations.”

Passengers stranded at Gatwick are entitled to compensation under air passengers’ rights rules. These include provisions for meals, hotel accommodation, and rebooking on the next available flight. However, the situation is likely to result in financial losses for airlines, which must cover these costs while dealing with the logistical challenges of rebooking passengers.

As disruptions continue, passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates and further information.