UK air traffic capacity was reduced by 50% for more than 4h on 17 June following a software failure. The fault forced some carriers to cancel all flights for the day and many the following day. The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) says it was the worst equipment-based disruption it has suffered in 15 years.
British Airways cancelled 100 flights on the day and 200 the following day because aircraft and crews were out of position, while Luton-based easyJet reported 90 out of 110 flights cancelled.
The software failure in the two flight data processing system (FDPS) computers required reversion to a manual system. The FDPS assembles and prints out flightplan information to make up flight progress strips for controllers. System failure was traced to a recent software upgrade.
Source: Flight International
