A fresh round of flight disruption at Gatwick yesterday triggered a call from Ryanair for the head of National Air Traffic Control Services (Nats) to resign.
The airport confirmed 22 cancellations up to 10pm on last night with reports of further delays and diversions to other airports including Bournemouth, Cardiff and Stansted.
Air traffic control restrictions were put in place on Thursday afternoon due to “a short notice staff absence”, Nats said.
The air traffic control provider apologised for the inconvenience, adding that it was working closely with the airport “to ensure we can handle flights with as little disruption as possible” and to “build resilience in the airport’s control tower to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum”.
New air traffic controllers have been recruited since last summer with others due to start soon after completing their training, Nats said.
It added: “Airlines operating at London Gatwick were aware of the situation when Nats was appointed but that does not dilute the apology we offer sincerely to them and their passengers who have been inconvenienced by recent disruption.”
Gatwick, which expects a normal service today, also apologised and said: “Nats are a world-class provider of air traffic services and London Gatwick’s senior management recognises how hard the airport’s air traffic controllers are working to keep the operation moving.”
The incident followed mass disruption affecting thousands of passengers on August bank holiday Monday due to a Nats system outage.
Up to 60 Gatwick flights affecting 9,000 passengers were cancelled just over a week later due to “short notice sickness” in the control tower managed by Nats.
Ryanair group chief executive Michael O’Leary said: “It is unacceptable that more flights and hundreds of passengers are suffering delays to/from Gatwick airport for a third time in just two weeks.
“Airlines are paying millions of pounds to Nats each and every year and should not have to see their passengers suffer avoidable delays due to UK ATC staff shortages.
“We call on [Nats chief executive] Martin Rolfe to immediately resign and hand the job over to someone competent enough to do it.”
Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Blue-Said told the BBC: “The situation at Gatwick is unacceptable.”
She explained that the disruption has “huge financial implications” for the sector, as well as causing “havoc for travellers”.
Which? Travel editor Rory Boland said: “It is unacceptable that some Gatwick passengers have been hit by further air traffic control problems so soon after the chaos a few weeks ago.
“This is not an issue caused by airlines, but they must meet their legal obligations to look after passengers and provide them with support during delays and help with refunds and rerouting – including with other carriers if necessary.
“To help end this cycle of miserable passenger experiences, the prime minister must play his part and prioritise legislation to give the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) stronger enforcement powers in the King’s Speech later this year.”