rki.news

Edinburgh Airport resumed flights at 10:40 on Thursday following a two-hour suspension caused by an air traffic control outage. The disruption led to delays, cancellations, and diversions, with some passengers reportedly stuck on planes on the runway.

Seven flights were cancelled, affecting routes to Paris, Bristol, Belfast, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Luton, and Belfast City. In addition, 11 flights were diverted from Edinburgh, and 15 others experienced delays. Airport officials described the situation as “fluid” and warned that further disruption remained possible. Passengers were advised to contact their airlines for the latest information.

The airport attributed the outage to an IT issue with its air traffic control provider and thanked passengers for their “patience and understanding.” Felicity, a passenger from Swindon, said the delays caused her to miss her youngest child’s final nativity play. Others reported missing connecting flights and long waits onboard.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said airlines are responsible for getting diverted passengers to their original destinations and should cover associated costs. However, he noted that compensation for delays caused by technical issues is unlikely.

Edinburgh Airport, one of the UK’s busiest, handled 15.8 million passengers last year. Officials continue to monitor the situation closely to minimise further disruption and ensure flights operate safely.