Anger mounts as air traffic charges spike following IT system failure

The UK's aviation regulator has increased air traffic control charges, leading airlines to express their anger and warn passengers of higher fares. The charges, which are paid by airlines, have been raised due to the air traffic control system failure that occurred in August. The fee will increase from £47 to £64 per flight until 2027, resulting in an additional cost of around 43p per passenger. Airlines argue that these increases are unjustified given the recent disruption caused by the air traffic control meltdown. The chief executive of industry body Airlines UK, Tim Alderslade, stated that these higher charges are yet another blow to passengers who have already faced numerous issues this summer, including the IT failure in August. Airlines UK, which represents major airlines such as British Airways, EasyJet, and Ryanair, believes that passengers will ultimately bear the costs of these increases. They suggest that an independent review is needed to protect passengers and ensure that airlines are not constantly burdened with costs for failures that are not their fault. In August, thousands of flights in the UK were cancelled due to a failure in the National Air Traffic Services system, leaving passengers stranded. Airlines incurred significant costs in providing accommodation and rebooking flights for affected customers. Nats has apologized for the disruption and claims to have implemented measures to avoid a similar incident in the future. However, it has been confirmed that Nats will not directly reimburse airlines for the costs incurred as a result of the technical failure. The Civil Aviation Authority's decision to allow Nats to charge more for its services is separate from its ongoing investigation into the system failure incident. Some airline executives, such as Jonathan Hinkles of Loganair, have criticized the increase in charges and suggest that airlines may divert flights away from the UK to avoid them. Hinkles argued that although flying longer routes would consume more fuel and generate more emissions, the savings achieved by avoiding the high charges are worth it. The CAA defends its decision, stating that it enables Nats to cover its operating costs and maintain a safe operation. The charges apply to services provided in UK and North Atlantic airspace. The CAA has mentioned that further regulatory steps may be considered based on the outcome of the independent review of the IT meltdown. The decision to increase charges has been met with strong opposition, with industry experts and airlines expressing their dissatisfaction. Airlines have reminded passengers of their rights under UK law, which include the choice of a refund or alternative flight, full refunds for return tickets with cancelled legs, and the right to be booked on another airline or suitable transport if it results in significantly earlier arrival at the destination.