Passengers warned of ‘horrible’ disruption at airports as hundreds more UK flights are cancelled

New delays confirmed this morning

At major UK airports, flights have been disrupted due to a technical fault at air traffic control provider NATS, Sky News reported, and people travelling to and from the UK will feel the knock-on effects for hours to come.

The chaos in UK airports continues also on Wednesday (9 September), as flight-monitoring website Flightradar24 showed that yesterday there were cancellations in roughly 1,300 flights.

A Delta airways plane on the runway at Heathrow Airport on September 08, 2026 in London. Credit: Getty Images

The airports most affected by cancellations

Wednesday’s cancellations have come primarily at Heathrow Airport, which by 6am has seen 246 cancelled flights.

There were 16 flights cancelled between 7am and 8am at Heathrow and there could yet be knock-on effects elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Gatwick has faced 33 cancellations, while Manchester Airport is showing two cancelled flights afer 7am (to Heathrow and to Paris).

Between 7am and 8am, in Glasgow, flights to Heathrow, Luton and Gatwick have been cancelled.

Speaking to Sky News, travel journalist and expert Simon Calder said the knock-on effects today are “going to be horrible”.

“There are going to be dozens of cancellations in the morning of flights coming into Heathrow because, basically, the flights didn't go out tonight,” Calder said.

Pedestrians cross a bridge at terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport on September 08, 2026 in London. Credit: Getty Images

How air traffic control failure left UK airports in chaos

The issues at the airports were first reported early on Tuesday afternoon (8 September) as aviation news site Air Live said that all flights from the Heathrow and Gatwick had been stopped following a technical failure in air traffic control (ATC) equipment.

Meanwhile, flight tracking data appeared to show the same issue at a number of other London airports.

Air Live report that a ground stop for departures was implemented at 12.48pm BST after the system failure disrupted ATC communications and equipement.

It said that airport management confirmed the temporary halt of outgoing flights while people worked on restoring the normal functionality.

Flights backed up on the ground at Heathrow. Credit: Screenshot Flightradar24.

The issue was later reported to be affecting all of London airspace and beyond.

A statement from National Air Traffic Services (NATS) said: "We are investigating a technical issue which is causing some disruption to flight departures. Our engineers are on site and we will provide an update as soon as we can."

A London Gatwick spokesperson told JOE: “We are aware of a NATS technical issue that is currently affecting a number of UK airports, including London Gatwick.

Meanwhile, a Heathrow spokesperson told JOE: "The air traffic control service NATS is experiencing a technical issue which is impacting departing flights at UK airports. Arriving flights are not currently impacted.

"We are supporting our local NATS team in their efforts to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. We will provide updated information when we have it. We apologise to those disrupted and advise passengers to check with their airline for latest flight information."

“Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for more information regarding their flights.”

It was also reported that traffic was being heavily regulated at airports in the London EGTT FIR.

Flightradar24 said in a social media post: "Arrivals and departures are being heavily regulated at airports in the London EGTT FIR due to ATC equipment issues. Eurocontrol lists 20:00 UTC as expected return to normal traffic."