Update: NATS says the problem at its Swanwick center has now been resolved and its now in the process of restoring normal services. Flights will still see delays for some time due to the need of crew changes and other issues.
System has been restored and we are in the process of returning to normal operations. For more information please see http://t.co/2ToleaTUrH
— NATS (@NATS) December 12, 2014
Update: limited flights from Heathrow and Gatwick are reportedly leaving.
UPDATE Limited departures out of Heathrow to the north have resumed. A BA A319 is the first out. pic.twitter.com/51yWgvIpp8 via @AirlineFlyer
— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) December 12, 2014
Flights are now departing from Gatwick but there are delays due to the Air Traffic Control computer issues.
— Gatwick Airport LGW (@Gatwick_Airport) December 12, 2014
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Original story follows:
The airspace above London has been closed due to a computer failure. The situation was first announced by Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation:
A computer failure is affecting London airspace with potentially severe #flightdelay http://t.co/21rtiLnmr8
— EUROCONTROL (@eurocontrol) December 12, 2014
National Air Traffic Control (NATS) then confirmed that a technical problem at its air traffic control center in Swanwick is the heart of the problem.
NATS can confirm that a technical problem has been reported at Swanwick ATC centre. More information at http://t.co/33JCopLGeR
— NATS (@NATS) December 12, 2014
NATS says airspace technically remains open but it is restricting traffic volumes:
Airspace is open. We're restricting traffic volumes in accordance with capability we currently have in our system.
— NATS (@NATS) December 12, 2014
https://twitter.com/HeathrowAirport/status/543424876116475904
The airspace is expected to be closed until at least 7pm GMT, according to Eurocontrol.
As you can see from the FlightRadar24 screenshot below, flights are stacking up above Heathrow. You can watch live traffic over the airport here.
Flights to Gatwick Airport are still landing but flights out are delayed:
Departing flights are currently experiencing delays and we will update passengers as soon as we have more information.
— Gatwick Airport LGW (@Gatwick_Airport) December 12, 2014
Flights from Stansted Airport are currently suspended:
Due to a technical fault at NATS Swanwick ATC centre affecting London airspace, departing flights from @STN_Airport are currently suspended.
— Stansted Airport (@STN_Airport) December 12, 2014
As you’d expect, no flights are departing from London City Airport either:
Update: No departures from LCY until further notice. Please contact your airline for info on your flight http://t.co/AvhFR1Kr2i
— London City Airport (@LondonCityAir) December 12, 2014
Luton Airport is also affected:
Technical problem with air traffic affecting London airspace including @LDNLutonAirport. More information to follow.
— London Luton Airport (@LDNLutonAirport) December 12, 2014
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