Flights across Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of England faced delays on September 21 following a technical failure at the NATS Prestwick air traffic control centre.
The disruption was caused by a failure involving the Flight Data Processing System at the Prestwick Centre, which temporarily restricted capacity in Scottish-controlled airspace by 60%.
Because the Prestwick Centre manages air traffic across Scotland, northern England and the northeastern Atlantic, the impact extended beyond the UK’s northern regions. Flights operating between the United States and Northern Europe were also affected.
Airports located south of Manchester were broadly unaffected, although flights travelling north, as well as services departing from Scottish airports, were subject to delays.
NATS later confirmed that the technical problem had been resolved and said it was working with airports and airlines to remove the air traffic restrictions safely and as quickly as possible.
A NATS spokesperson said: “The issue in our Prestwick centre is now fixed. We are working with airports and airlines to safely lift air traffic regulations as quickly as we can to minimise any further disruption. Passengers should still check the status of their flight with their airline. We apologise for the disruption.”
The operator also stressed that the Prestwick incident was unrelated to the technical problems experienced earlier in September across the UK, which caused significant disruption and led to more than 2,000 cancelled flights.
The latest disruption has also raised concerns within the freight sector about the knock-on effects for air cargo movements.
Pawel Jarza, Policy, Compliance and External Affairs Director at the British International Freight Association (BIFA), said the renewed air traffic control problems were concerning, particularly following the disruption caused by the recent Heathrow incident.
“It is concerning to see news reported today that flights in Scotland and parts of Northern England have been disrupted by further air traffic control issues,” Jarza said.
He pointed to the wider consequences for cargo operations, noting that cancellations, delays and diversions can affect the movement of goods transported by air and create difficulties for businesses relying on those services.
“We know from the recent Heathrow air traffic control issue that disruptions of this kind extend far beyond passengers. Any cancellations, delays and diversions can risk compromising the movement of goods that rely on air freight and impact the businesses that depend on them,” he said.
“With supply chains already under pressure from multiple global challenges, disruptions of this scale result in delays and uncertainty leaving freight forwarders and their customers with very limited control over the movement of their goods.”
BIFA highlighted the particular importance of air freight for time-sensitive cargo, including perishable and high-value products as well as goods required urgently.
These shipments can include fresh produce, medical supplies and critical components supporting the automotive, technology and manufacturing sectors.
BIFA members, Jarza added, will work with airlines, ground handlers, Customs authorities and their international networks to prioritise shipments, examine alternative routing options and keep customers informed as the situation develops.
“Reliable air connectivity is essential not only for passengers, but for the supply chains and businesses that depend on Scottish and UK airports as major cargo gateways,” he said.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK), a local airport affected by the wider developments, also issued a statement to clarify its position.
A spokesperson for Glasgow Prestwick Airport said: “NATS and its Prestwick Centre are separate from Glasgow Prestwick Airport. We are aware of the technical issue affecting NATS operations. Our air traffic control team is working to minimise disruption to airport operations and we will provide further information directly to affected customers as soon as it is available.”
Although NATS said the technical issue at its Prestwick Centre had been fixed, passengers were advised to continue checking directly with their airlines for the latest flight information as air traffic restrictions were being lifted.
