Flights cancelled at Gatwick after short-notice staff absences

Flights have been cancelled, delayed and rerouted at Gatwick due to short-notice staff absences in the air traffic control team, the airport has said. The transport hub in West Sussex has apologised to those affected by the temporary air traffic control restrictions enforced on Thursday evening which led to 22 flights being cancelled. Passengers wrote on social media that their flights had been diverted to other UK airports including Bournemouth, London Stansted and Heathrow. The staff absences are from Nats, formerly National Air Traffic Services, which provide en route air traffic control services to flights. A London Gatwick spokesperson said: “Due to a short-notice staff absence in the air traffic control tower, temporary air traffic control restrictions have been put in place this evening. This will cause some delays. London Gatwick would like to apologise to any passengers who have been impacted by these restrictions. Please contact your airline for more information. “Nats are a world-class provider of air traffic services and London Gatwick’s senior management recognises how hard the airport’s air traffic controllers are working to keep the operation moving. We are working closely with Nats to build resilience in the airport’s control tower to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.” The airport later added: “The situation is improving with an additional air traffic controller now in place. The air traffic control restrictions are reducing as a consequence and more aircraft are able to arrive and depart.” New air traffic controllers are understood to have been recruited since last summer and others are due to start after completing their training in line with the agreed plan when Nats took over the contract last October.<br/>