Bloomberg
• Kate Duffy
UK air travel is recovering after a NATS flight-processing failure disrupted operations, canceled more than 2,000 flights and stranded hundreds of thousands of passengers. Although services returned to normal and NATS ruled out a cyber attack, aircraft and crew repositioning is extending the disruption.
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UK air travel is recovering after a NATS flight-processing failure disrupted operations, canceled more than 2,000 flights and stranded hundreds of thousands of passengers. Although services returned to normal and NATS ruled out a cyber attack, aircraft and crew repositioning is extending the disruption.
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A systems failure at UK air traffic control provider NATS caused 1,700 flight cancellations on Tuesday and more than 300 on Wednesday, with Heathrow among the airports still affected. The government has given NATS one week to investigate as airlines work through continuing delays and cancellations.
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A technical failure at the UK’s air traffic control provider NATS halted arrivals at London’s five major airports until at least 10 p.m. Tuesday, while cancellations and delays affected more than 1,000 flights nationwide. Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted were among the airports disrupted.
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Two Democratic senators are urging the FAA to distribute the remaining 2.8% of a congressionally approved pay increase for air traffic controllers, accusing the agency of withholding raises. The FAA says additional conditions remain, intensifying a dispute over controller workload and a broader scheduling overhaul.
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Ukraine is urging ICAO to prohibit commercial overflights of Russia, citing deteriorating airspace safety as it plans more drone activity near Russian airports. Airlines are already adjusting operations: Air Tanzania diverted a Moscow flight to St. Petersburg, while Flydubai continues reviewing routes, delays and diversions.
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Several air traffic controllers on duty when two Qantas aircraft nearly collided at Sydney Airport in July had been identified as facing a high risk of fatigue, according to internal records and a call recording obtained by Reuters. One shift manager described the staffing situation as “a bit insane.”
A U.S. Coast Guard jet carrying Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, senior officials and 14 people aboard made an emergency landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after an engine failed during a border patrol mission. No injuries were reported, and Mullin said the single-engine landing went smoothly.
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The FAA is withholding a 2.8% pay increase for air traffic controllers until they meet demands for greater efficiency, adding pressure to a workforce already demoralized by recent government shutdowns. The move comes as the agency negotiates changes to controller scheduling and working practices.
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