Thousands of passengers hit by cancelled flights at two of UK’s top airports

THOUSANDS of passengers have been hit by flight cancellations and delays at the UK’s two busiest airports this morning.

EasyJet has grounded 32 flights at London Gatwick so far today, while British Airways has been forced to cancel the same number of flights from London Heathrow.

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Air Traffic Control (ATC) problems and bad weather have both been blamed for the travel disruption.

Routes to Spain, Italy and Hungary have all been affected, as well as domestic flights.

Passengers affected by the cancellations are unlikely to receive any compensation either, with easyJet informing them that it is an “extraordinary circumstance” which is not in the airline’s control.

Messages sent to affected passengers read: “We’re sorry that your flight has been cancelled. This is due to air traffic control restrictions.

“The disruption to your flight is outside of our control and is considered to be an extraordinary circumstance.”

Airlines typically aren’t obliged to issue a refund if a flight is cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.

Flights cancelled due to airport or air traffic control employee strikes, or other “extraordinary circumstances,” are also generally not eligible for compensation.

Sun travel has approached both easyJet and British Airways for comment.

Frustrated passengers took to X, formerly Twitter, to vent their anger at their cancellations.

One wrote: “So British Airways cancelled my flight back to London from Rome because of ‘bad weather’, but then I realise that the plane flew to Ibiza instead and back to London with exactly the same departure times.

“What’s the logic? More expensive passengers that cannot be let down?”

Another reached out to BA, saying: “Lovely that you cancel my flight today from Copenhagen. Especially by sending an email at 2.30am. The only way back now is via Norwegain and costs £500 one way.”

A third contacted easyJet, saying: “I’m stuck in Gatwick Airport, I’ve been here for hours, flight cancelled, spent 3 hours trying to deal with you guys.”

Another added: “Was flying to London this morning to see family and easyJet cancelled my flight at 5.30am.

“Alternative flights were either too expensive (deliberately) or unsuitable. Never again will I fly with these chancers.”

Meanwhile, Ryanair has also apologised to passengers for delays from airports they operate from, with hundreds of other flights across Europe affected.

They claim that ATC staff shortages are creating issues for all European airlines.

In a statement on its website, the airline said: “Ryanair apologises to its passengers for the excessive flight delays caused by European ATC staff shortages today, which are affecting all European airlines.

“ATC services, which have had the benefit of no French ATC strike disruption this summer, continue to underperform with repeated ‘staff shortages’.

“We apologise to our passengers for these repeated ATC flight delays which are deeply regrettable but beyond Ryanair’s control.”

ATC problems have affected flights already this summer, with more than 60 Ryanair trips cancelled last weekend and more than 150 delayed.

Wizz Air was also forced to cancel several flights for the same reason.

Last week passengers were also told to expect more problems later this month, with ATC strikes in Italy set to take place.

Staff at Milan Linate and Bergamo Orio al Serio are due to walk out on July 21 between 1 and 5pm.

Meanwhile, in some good news for those who use Gatwick Airport, strikes planned for later this month have been delayed.

Walkouts by Gatwick baggage security screeners have been postponed following an improved pay offer, according to Unite union.

The workers, who are employed by ICTS, have agreed to call all off industrial action scheduled to take place from 12 to 14 July and 19 to 21 July while they ballot on the offer.

If it is rejected, fresh industrial action will be scheduled.

Strikes on the same dates by workers who provide special assistance services for vulnerable passengers are still set to go ahead.

And this is how to get money back for delayed or cancelled flights.

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