Air traffic control problems are returning to haunt August bank holiday travellers - as rail and road disruption also takes hold across the country. Over the weekend many passengers are experiencing delays as a result of what Ryanair calls an “air traffic control staff shortage” across the continent. Europe’s biggest budget airline said 15 per cent of its “first wave” of flights on Sunday were delayed because of air traffic control hold-ups.
A similar figure is likely for today. On the same bank holiday Monday last year air traffic control systems at Nats , the main UK air navigation provider, shut down in response to an unusual flight plan . Around 2,000 flights were cancelled and 300,000 passengers had their travel plans wrecked.
At least one flight on Sunday night was diverted because delays had built up so much, with easyJet flight 8483 from London Gatwick to Basel taking off more than two hours late. The Airbus jet was making a normal approach to the Franco-Swiss airport when about 10 minutes from landing it changed course and flew around 200 miles to Lyon. Passengers were told: “We’re very sorry that your flight has now been diverted.
This is due to air-traffic control restrictions throughout today have delayed your flight outside of the opening hours of Basel airport. “Some airports have strict operating times which cannot be extended. As a result we had no option but to divert your flight.
” They completed the journey through the night on buses. But p.