National Air Traffic Service Suffers Major Outage
A significant technical issue at the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) control centre in Swanwick, southwest of London, plunged the UK into widespread air travel chaos on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The outage, which began earlier in the day, led to extensive flight disruptions, diversions, and a substantial number of cancellations impacting passengers nationwide.
Airports Across the UK Grapple with Delays
Major aviation hubs, including Gatwick, London City, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Heathrow, and Manchester airports, were among those most severely affected. Passengers faced the unsettling experience of flights being turned around mid-air as air traffic control capacity was severely limited to maintain safety standards. This necessary restriction resulted in prolonged delays and stranded thousands of travellers across Europe.
Recovery Efforts Underway Amidst Lingering Backlog
NATS announced that its systems were fully operational again by the afternoon. However, the impact of the outage continued to be felt throughout the day and into the evening, with a significant backlog of flights remaining. By 5:30 PM, approximately 80 flights to and from the UK had been cancelled as a direct result of the technical failure.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged the severity of the disruption, stating that recovery efforts were actively underway to address the lingering consequences of the incident. The full extent of the operational impact and the timeline for complete normalization of services remained subjects of concern for passengers and industry stakeholders alike.
Calls for Resignation Amidst Criticism of NATS
The widespread disruption has drawn sharp criticism, with budget airline Ryanair calling for the resignation of NATS CEO Martin Rolfe. The airline cited alleged mismanagement and a perceived failure to learn from previous outages as grounds for their demand. This public stance highlights growing dissatisfaction with the reliability of the UK’s air traffic control infrastructure.
The prolonged disruption served as a stark reminder of the critical reliance on seamless air traffic management systems and the cascading effects that technical failures can have on national and international travel networks. Passengers are advised to check directly with their airlines for the latest updates on their specific flight status.
