UK air traffic control failure disrupts Cyprus flights

Nicosia, Cyprus. Flights to and from Cyprus were affected on Tuesday after a technical failure in the UK air traffic control system caused widespread cancellations and delays across Britain. Several services linking Larnaca and Paphos airports with London and Manchester were cancelled.

Cyprus services cancelled

Three flights from London to Larnaca and three departures from Larnaca to London were cancelled, including one scheduled for Wednesday morning, according to the Hermes Airports flight information board.

At Paphos airport, three arrivals from London and one from Manchester were cancelled, along with the corresponding departures to those destinations.

Widespread disruption in Britain

More than 400 flights were cancelled and at least 600 delayed across Britain. Heathrow reported around 100 cancellations and 367 delays.

Heathrow and Gatwick were particularly affected, while problems were also reported at Stansted, London City, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Belfast airports.

Restoration efforts

The technical problem was identified in the system used to process flight plans. The UK air traffic control provider said engineers were working towards a full restoration.

The disruption also affected arrivals, with some aircraft remaining on the ground at airports elsewhere in Europe or being diverted to Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris and Dusseldorf.

Airlines and airports are expected to face further disruption after the problem is resolved because aircraft and crews have been displaced and schedules have accumulated delays. The effects could continue for several hours and potentially into Wednesday as operators work to restore normal schedules.