Dec 12, 2014, 9:03 am
Last edit by: EDIflyer
Latest Information (16:25 GMT 12 Dec 14)
Following a technical issue at NATS, starting approx 1450 GMT on 12 December 2014, flights departing and arriving into London airports have been impacted. Departures were temporarily suspended and some arrivals were diverted or turned back to their origin. There were reports of flights passing over London airspace (e.g. mainland Europe to Dublin) also being impacted.
The issue was resolved at approx 1615 GMT, however significant delays are expected.
Departures resumed at LHR at around 16:15 GMT.
For those on cancelled flights you need to 'land' and go landside via Gate A3 (domestic flights) or A12 (international flights).
---
Original Info
Flights to and from London airports are severely delayed or cancelled due to a computer failure at approximately 1450GMT.
Some flights were able to land at Heathrow, but none are able to leave. (BA173 on runway)
Airspace is expected to be open by 1900GMT, however the knockon delays may last all weekend.
---
Eurocontrol Latest Update (approx 16:15 GMT)
ALL LONDON Airspace recovering from failure
LONDON ACC is starting measured recovery after technical failure.
Rates will be raised in steps.
NMOC - Brussels
---
NATS Update at 16:15 GMT
Following a technical failure at Swanwick, the system has been restored and we are in the process of returning to normal operations.
We apologise for any delays and the inconvenience this may have caused.
Further information will be released as it becomes available.
---
EU261 compensation will not apply, however your airline does have a duty of care, including paying reasonable amounts for Food and, if delayed overnight, hotels. Expect queues at the airport and the phones to be terrible.
News reports
BBC London airspace closed after computer failure
Official Source of Information
Eurocontrol: https://www.public.nm.eurocontrol.in...pec/index.html
NATS: http://www.nats.aero/news/swanwick-technical-failure/
BA.com: http://www.britishairways.com/travel...ruption_banner
Following a technical issue at NATS, starting approx 1450 GMT on 12 December 2014, flights departing and arriving into London airports have been impacted. Departures were temporarily suspended and some arrivals were diverted or turned back to their origin. There were reports of flights passing over London airspace (e.g. mainland Europe to Dublin) also being impacted.
The issue was resolved at approx 1615 GMT, however significant delays are expected.
Departures resumed at LHR at around 16:15 GMT.
For those on cancelled flights you need to 'land' and go landside via Gate A3 (domestic flights) or A12 (international flights).
---
Original Info
Flights to and from London airports are severely delayed or cancelled due to a computer failure at approximately 1450GMT.
Some flights were able to land at Heathrow, but none are able to leave. (BA173 on runway)
Airspace is expected to be open by 1900GMT, however the knockon delays may last all weekend.
---
Eurocontrol Latest Update (approx 16:15 GMT)
ALL LONDON Airspace recovering from failure
LONDON ACC is starting measured recovery after technical failure.
Rates will be raised in steps.
NMOC - Brussels
---
NATS Update at 16:15 GMT
Following a technical failure at Swanwick, the system has been restored and we are in the process of returning to normal operations.
We apologise for any delays and the inconvenience this may have caused.
Further information will be released as it becomes available.
---
EU261 compensation will not apply, however your airline does have a duty of care, including paying reasonable amounts for Food and, if delayed overnight, hotels. Expect queues at the airport and the phones to be terrible.
News reports
BBC London airspace closed after computer failure
Official Source of Information
Eurocontrol: https://www.public.nm.eurocontrol.in...pec/index.html
NATS: http://www.nats.aero/news/swanwick-technical-failure/
BA.com: http://www.britishairways.com/travel...ruption_banner
Fri 12 Dec pm, Southern UK airspace closed [now open with capacity restrictions]
Dec 12, 2014, 7:58 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC GCH, CXMP Gold, Amex Plat, HH Gold, Accor Plat, SPG Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,106
Fri 12 Dec pm, Southern UK airspace closed [now open with capacity restrictions]
Sat at T3 LHR and just been informed that radar at LHR has "gone down" and no flights are allowed to depart. Unsure of impact on arrivals.
Thought this may be of use to some people.
Thought this may be of use to some people.
Dec 12, 2014, 8:02 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC GCH, CXMP Gold, Amex Plat, HH Gold, Accor Plat, SPG Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,106
Southern UK airspace closed for departures!
Wow. We're at LHR and are currently parked awaiting departure. Was told by captain that LHR radar down and no departures. Apparently it looks worse than that!
Dec 12, 2014, 8:05 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL (for now) and Lifetime Gold, Marriott fan thanks to Bonvoy Moments
Posts: 5,115
You're better informed than our pilot (ATC too busy to explain I presume, pretty understandable!)
And this was a trip I wasn't sure I could make due to work, and just about managed it. Wonder how longe we have until 744 pilots and crew get timed out...
And this was a trip I wasn't sure I could make due to work, and just about managed it. Wonder how longe we have until 744 pilots and crew get timed out...
Dec 12, 2014, 8:07 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC GCH, CXMP Gold, Amex Plat, HH Gold, Accor Plat, SPG Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,106
Southern UK airspace closed for departures!
Thanks all. Currently still sat here. Been about 30 minutes so far.
Good luck to you sir!
Good luck to you sir!
Dec 12, 2014, 8:10 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL (for now) and Lifetime Gold, Marriott fan thanks to Bonvoy Moments
Posts: 5,115
Apparently we should be first in the queue, but FO doesn't know when that might be
"Computer problem at ATC" was his line
Very proactive CSD who came on immediately afterwards explaining need to stay in seats and advertising call bell for anything urgent.
Good luck to us all!
"Computer problem at ATC" was his line
Very proactive CSD who came on immediately afterwards explaining need to stay in seats and advertising call bell for anything urgent.
Good luck to us all!
Dec 12, 2014, 8:11 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC GCH, CXMP Gold, Amex Plat, HH Gold, Accor Plat, SPG Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,106
Southern UK airspace closed for departures!
We're moving! No update though from cockpit. Can't see any arrivals or departures on either runway though.
Dec 12, 2014, 8:11 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC GCH, CXMP Gold, Amex Plat, HH Gold, Accor Plat, SPG Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,106
Apparently we should be first in the queue, but FO doesn't know when that might be
"Computer problem at ATC" was his line
Very proactive CSD who came on immediately afterwards explaining need to stay in seats and advertising call bell for anything urgent.
Good luck to us all!
"Computer problem at ATC" was his line
Very proactive CSD who came on immediately afterwards explaining need to stay in seats and advertising call bell for anything urgent.
Good luck to us all!
Dec 12, 2014, 8:11 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,835
Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3G: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 8_1_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/600.1.4 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/8.0 Mobile/12B435 Safari/600.1.4)
LCY being held also unsurprisingly.
This is the excellent level of service the expensive departure fees pay for I presume....
LCY being held also unsurprisingly.
This is the excellent level of service the expensive departure fees pay for I presume....
Dec 12, 2014, 8:14 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Near Edinburgh
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 9,034
Dec 12, 2014, 8:15 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Here, there and everywhere
Posts: 72
Pilot just said major computer failure at ATC. Didn't know if it was just Heathrow or further afield. We would probably have been away apart from too much handbagage and a couple of bags had to get off loaded.