Call for Government to compensate those hit by NATS meltdown
Over 50s operator Saga has called on the Government to compensate the thousands of passengers whose trips were delayed or cancelled due to last week’s air traffic control failure.
Scores of flights were grounded on Friday after a technical glitch caused the NATS internal phone system to fail, leading to the closure of London airspace.
Disruption continued into the weekend and while London airports were worst affected – with as many as 10,000 passengers at Heathrow disrupted – flights to and from other UK and European airports were also hit.
However, airlines are claiming that as the delays were caused by a technical glitch beyond their control they will not be obliged to compensate passengers under EU regulations.
Saga Travel’s Louis Myers said the Government, NATS majority shareholder, should compensate those affected, or at ‘the very least’ refund the Air Passenger Duty for those delayed by more than five hours.
"We hope the Government review of the incident will include a call for compensation for the flying public," he said.
The Civil Aviation Authority, which regulates air traffic control, is supporting a review by NATS into what went wrong and how to prevent a repeat of last Friday’s incident, which was similar to another meltdown that occurred in 2013.
Airlines pay a fee to NATS, which is 49% owned by a consortium of UK airlines and 51% owned by the Government.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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