London Gatwick delays and cancellations affect 11 flights

Disruption overview

An air traffic control technical fault affected 11 flights at London Gatwick Airport on 18 October 2026, with disruption continuing from the morning into the day. easyJet's arrival from Berlin and Vueling's arrival from Barcelona were canceled, while multiple easyJet departures were delayed by about 25 minutes to 1 hour. Barcelona services listed under easyJet, Vueling, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL also asked passengers to contact their airline, adding uncertainty for travelers checking their plans.

If your journey was affected, compensation is unlikely because the fault was outside the airlines' control, but you may still have rights to rebooking, a refund, and care during your wait.

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Disruption details

A technical problem with the UK's air traffic control system disrupted 11 flights at London Gatwick Airport on Sunday, 18 October 2026. Cancellations and delays affected arrivals and departures, including multiple easyJet services.

For passengers, this meant changed travel plans and longer waits. Some travelers reported being stranded without their luggage and waiting for hours. If you're flying through Gatwick, check your flight's status with your airline or the airport before making travel decisions.

The disruption was already affecting the morning schedule and continued into the day. The 2 canceled arrivals were:

• easyJet flight EJU8622 from Berlin.

• Vueling flight VY7830 from Barcelona.

Several Barcelona departures also carried notices asking passengers to contact their airline. These included services listed under easyJet, Vueling, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL. Those notices weren't confirmation that every listed service had been canceled.

easyJet departures to Edinburgh, Oporto, Barcelona, Glasgow, Zurich, Geneva, Bodrum, and Nice were delayed. The listed departure delays ranged from about 25 minutes to around 1 hour, pushing morning and early afternoon flights back from their scheduled times.

The air traffic control fault affected services across several routes rather than a single airline's schedule. Passengers were advised to keep checking updates with their airline or London Gatwick Airport as the disruption continued.

Compensation under UK 261 or, where applicable, EC 261 is unlikely for disruption caused by this air traffic control fault because it's outside the airline's control. That doesn't mean you're without support.

If your flight's canceled, your airline should offer rebooking or a refund if you no longer wish to travel. Depending on your journey and how long you're delayed, you may also be entitled to food, refreshments, and help with communication. If you're away from home and have to wait overnight, accommodation and transportation to it may also be required.

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Information on this page is AI generated, but always checked by a (human) passenger right expert.