Air traffic control staff shortages lead to flight cancellations at Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport has experienced disruptions to its flights due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. The airport confirmed 22 cancellations by 22:00 BST and FlightRadar24 reported that hundreds of flights have been delayed or diverted. Gatwick Airport apologized for the inconvenience and advised passengers to contact their airlines. National Air Traffic Services (Nats) stated that they are working hard to minimize disruption. FlightRadar24 data shows that 376 flights into Gatwick and 252 flights departing from the airport have been delayed. EasyJet expressed frustration with the situation and apologized to their customers. Last month, a technical issue at Nats led to the cancellation of 2,000 flights across the UK. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary called for the resignation of Nats CEO Martin Rolfe, stating that airlines should not have to deal with avoidable delays due to staffing shortages. Nats issued an apology, acknowledging the inconvenience caused and affirming their collaboration with the airport to reduce disruption. Gatwick Airport assured that the situation is improving with extra staff in place. Passengers affected by the disruptions were encouraged to contact the airport with their concerns.