Update
The NATS disruption: what the CAA said
On 8 September 2026 a technical issue at NATS disrupted UK flights. What the CAA said about compensation, care and costs, and why it calls its view guidance.
We are not lawyers. This is legal information, not legal advice, and we are not liable for how you use it. Official sources and the decisions of regulators and courts come first. Read the disclaimer.
The short version
According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, a technical issue at NATS on 8 September 2026 led to delays and the cancellation of hundreds of UK flights. The CAA considers delays and cancellations directly caused by it likely to count as extraordinary circumstances. So passengers are unlikely to be entitled to compensation for those. Airlines must still look after passengers.
What the CAA said airlines must still do
According to the CAA, airlines must provide care, offer a refund or re-routing, and promptly reimburse reasonable costs when passengers arrange their own care.
It is guidance, not a ruling
According to the CAA, this is guidance only. Each case turns on its facts, and passengers can still make a claim, including through the courts. The CAA also published a statement on a further disruption on 21 September 2026, which we have not summarised here.
What this means for a claim
- The cause matters most. Our article on extraordinary circumstances explains the CAA's categories and its view of technical faults.
- Care while you wait is separate from compensation. Keep itemised receipts for food and hotel costs and claim them from the airline. Our article on food and hotel costs explains how.
- Ask the airline to state the reason it relies on in writing.
What we could not confirm
We have not seen the outcome of any individual claim after this disruption, so we cannot say how airlines or courts will treat it. We update the rules ledger when the CAA publishes more.
Sources.
Checked 02 Oct 2026. Where we could only find press reports, the text says so.
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