Belfast flights disrupted as air traffic control fault causes delays and cancellations

Flights in and out of Belfast are being disrupted this Monday after a technical fault at NATS’s Prestwick centre cut capacity across Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England. Travellers using Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport are being told to check with their airline before setting out.

NATS said the issue forced a safety-led reduction in the number of flights that can be handled in the affected airspace. The operator has stressed that Monday’s fault is not linked to the earlier software defect that led to more than 2,000 cancellations elsewhere in the UK this month — a separate episode from the wider NATS disruption that hit Belfast airports earlier in September.

Belfast City Airport has taken most of the local hit so far. Cancellations reported there include services to Manchester, Amsterdam and London City, with later disruption also affecting Glasgow and Edinburgh. Belfast International reported delays in its initial update, with no cancellations flagged at that stage. City of Derry Airport said its Glasgow service had been cancelled.

The same Prestwick-centred restriction is also affecting Glasgow, Edinburgh and airports in the Highlands and Islands (HIAL) network. easyJet, a major operator on several of the disrupted routes, faces fresh questions about how quickly it can rebook passengers when the system is under strain; the airline has pointed customers to its flight tracker for live status.

What passengers should do

• Confirm your flight status with the airline app, website or text alerts before leaving for the airport.
• Allow extra time if you still need to travel — boards are moving as capacity is managed.
• Do not rely on social media alone; use official airline and airport flight information.
• If your flight is cancelled, contact the airline about rebooking or refunds before travelling to the terminal.
• Keep an eye on Belfast City, Belfast International and City of Derry departure and arrival boards through the day.

Airport boards: Belfast City flight information · Belfast International flights. Background on City Airport’s longer-term plans: £200m consultation and master plan to 2040.

Developing story. LoveBelfast will update as airports and airlines issue further statements. Check your airline first — then travel.