Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
11 July 2013 09:08
Facilities are demonstrated at the Nats centre in Hampshire
Technical problems at an air traffic control centre led to delays for some air passengers on Tuesday.
Nats, based in Swanwick, near Southampton, was forced to restrict the number of aircraft flying across the south of England because of the issue.
Although Nats said it had now identified and corrected the technical problem, setbacks such as this highlight the importance of having travel insurance before you fly.
The company experienced computer glitches that affected flights when it first moved to the Hampshire site about 10 years ago, but the centre has worked well in recent years.
A Nats spokesperson said the "technical problems" at the Swanwick control centre on Tuesday had "not resulted in the closure of UK airspace or the suspension of all flights in or out of the UK".
The spokesperson said Nats had on Tuesday restricted the number of aircraft flying across the south of England and those taking off from airports in order to "maintain safety", adding that "our first priority will always be the safety of the flying public".
Heathrow experienced only minimal delays, as services heading south from the airport were the only flights affected, while at Gatwick only flights heading for Jersey were hit.
The traffic control issue affected all flights to and from Southampton Airport, according to an airport spokesperson. Passengers were advised to check with their airline for up to date information on Tuesday.
The Nats spokesperson apologised to passengers for any inconvenience caused and later said outbound delays were generally limited to 20 minutes.
The company worked with airports, airlines and Europe-wide organisation Eurocontrol to clear the backlog of flights to ensure disruption was kept to a minimum.
18 January 2019
A plant-based diet is needed to protect future generations and safeguard the wellbeing of the planet, according to experts.
[more...]
17 January 2019
Campaigners are protesting outside the High Court in London as the legal challenge against Heathrow Airport's controversial expansion ramps up.
16 January 2019
A new way to predict a woman's risk of breast cancer has been unveiled by scientists - and it's the most comprehensive method yet.
15 January 2019
NHS commissioners could be slapped with a £2,500 fine for every patient left waiting more than a year for vital care, new proposals suggest.
12 January 2019
All UK airports should buy anti-drone technology and not rely on the Royal Air Force to help out, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has said.
10 January 2019
The military was brought in on Tuesday night after police officers saw a drone operating at Heathrow Airport, forcing departures to be suspended for an hour.
11 January 2019
A so-called "drug sponge" that mops up leftover drugs from cancer treatment could improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy, new research has claimed.
09 January 2019
A hormone released during exercise could help protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests.
08 January 2019
Ryanair has been labelled the worst airline operating in the UK for the sixth year running in a leading consumer group survey.
05 January 2019
Anti-drone technology will be deployed at the UK's two busiest airports in response to the disruption caused before Christmas.
04 January 2019
A new cancer-detecting breathalyser test is being trialled in the UK - in a move that could revolutionise the way the disease is diagnosed.
03 January 2019
The average 10-year-old child will have already eaten more sugar in their life than the maximum amount recommended for 18-year-olds, a new study reveals.