Why Are Flights Being Disrupted?
The most significant recent event occurred on September 8, 2026, when a technical fault in the flight processing system of National Air Traffic Services (NATS) led to a near-total grounding of departing flights across the UK. Over 2,000 flights were cancelled,
affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers at major hubs like Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Stansted. While NATS resolved the issue within hours, the knock-on effects caused delays and cancellations for days as airlines worked to get crews and aircraft back in position. This follows similar major NATS failures in August 2023 and July 2025. Adding to the pressure, strike action is also a factor. More than 220 assisted-travel workers at Gatwick are set to strike over pay on nine days in September, which unions warn could slow down operations and cause further delays.
Your Rights When Things Go Wrong
When your flight is disrupted, your rights are protected by a law known as UK261. This regulation applies to any flight departing from a UK airport, or any flight arriving in the UK on a UK or EU airline. Regardless of the reason for the delay or cancellation, your airline has a legal 'duty of care'. This means they must provide you with assistance if you are delayed for a certain period. This includes a reasonable amount of food and drink (usually via vouchers), access to communication (such as phone calls), and, if you are delayed overnight, hotel accommodation and transport to and from the airport. This duty of care applies even in situations where the airline is not at fault, such as the NATS technical failure.
The Rules on Refunds and Rebooking
If your flight is cancelled, your airline must offer you a choice: a full refund for the flight you haven't taken, or an alternative flight to your destination. You can choose to be re-routed as soon as possible or at a later date that is convenient for you. If your flight is delayed by five hours or more, you are also entitled to choose not to travel and can request a full refund for your ticket. It is important to note that if you accept a refund, the airline's duty of care ends, and you will not be eligible for compensation or expenses from that point.
Are You Entitled to Compensation?
Financial compensation is separate from the airline's duty of care and refunds. You may be entitled to a fixed cash payment if your flight arrives at its final destination more than three hours late, but only if the disruption was within the airline's control. Situations like technical problems with the aircraft or crew shortages are typically considered the airline's fault. However, events deemed 'extraordinary circumstances'—such as bad weather, security risks, or air traffic control failures—mean you are unlikely to receive compensation. The UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has stated that the recent NATS system failure is likely to be considered an extraordinary circumstance, meaning compensation for these specific cancellations is unlikely.
How to Claim What You Are Owed
Even if you are not eligible for compensation, you can still claim back reasonable expenses if the airline failed to provide you with care during a delay. If you had to buy your own food, drink, or book a hotel, keep all your itemised receipts. Airlines will only reimburse 'reasonable' costs, so luxury meals and expensive hotels will likely be rejected. To make a claim for compensation or expenses, you must contact the airline directly, usually via a form on their website. You will need your booking reference, flight details, and copies of your receipts. Be persistent, as the process can sometimes be slow. If your claim is rejected and you believe you are entitled to payment, you can escalate your complaint to an approved dispute resolution body or the CAA.
