Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 08:30 - 19:00 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
Or call 0345 90 80 161
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.
08 July 2019
Tired of the same old travel options? Explore the best travel experiences at one of these weird and wacky festivals from around the world.
[more...]
Heading to the beach? Pack everything you need for the whole family by following this simple checklist.
05 July 2019
Heading off for some sun this summer? Protect your family's skin with these top tips to stay safe in the sun and prevent sunburn and lasting skin damage.
28 June 2019
Tired of paying over the odds for your family's summer holiday? Keep your costs down with our guide on how to get away for less...
Want to see Europe's greatest sport stars go head-to-head? Then head to Minsk! The capital of Belarus hosts this year's European Games – here's everything you need to know before travelling.
Heading to the European Games? Get more from your trip to Minsk by visiting some of these must-see attractions in the capital of Belarus.
Heading to the Austrian Grand Prix this summer? Get more out of your trip to Spielberg's iconic Red Bull Ring circuit with our guide to the local area.
07 June 2019
Thinking about going camping in France this summer but don't know where to try? Here's our quick guide to the best places to camp, whatever you're looking for.
Get hitched without a hitch! Here are our top tips on how to choose your perfect wedding location abroad, covering everything from food to legalities.
03 June 2019
Want to get into surfing but not sure where to go? Here's where you should be heading to get the best beginner waves around the world.
Heading to the showpiece event of women's football in France this summer? Here's everything you need to know about England's venues for France 2019.