Fixed compensation
Do not assume it is automatically due. The cause, applicable passenger-rights regime and the airline's response all matter.
Manchester NATS disruption · 21 September 2026
Manchester flights hit by NATS Prestwick connectivity failure
Manchester Airport was among the airports most visibly affected by the NATS Prestwick connectivity issue on 21 September. Restrictions on traffic heading north and departing Scottish airports produced delays and cancellations even after the technical problem was fixed.
Check my affected flightIs your flight affected?
Use your actual itinerary and operating airline to check which passenger rights may apply. It takes you from this incident briefing to a flight-specific assessment.
Check my affected flight →What happened
Reuters specifically reported Manchester delays during the incident. AP later identified Manchester among the airports with the greatest disruption as UK cancellations reached 227 by late afternoon across the network.
Operational conditions can change quickly. Check the airline and airport for live status before travelling.
Compensation is only one part of your rights
Where an air traffic control failure directly caused a Manchester delay or cancellation, fixed UK261 compensation may not be payable, but care and cancellation remedies are separate. The airline must still assess the passenger's actual flight and circumstances.
Refund or rerouting
A cancellation can create travel-remedy rights even where an extraordinary circumstance prevents fixed compensation.
Care and expenses
Where the applicable rules provide a duty of care, reasonable meals, accommodation or transport can remain separate from compensation.
What to do now
Save your airline's explanation, booking, rebooking details, actual arrival information and reasonable-expense receipts. If the airline identifies a separate operational cause, preserve that message because it can affect the assessment.
Check the facts of your flight
AeroDue separates the cause, itinerary and operating airline so passengers do not confuse an airport-wide incident with an automatic compensation result.
Check my affected flight →Sources used for this briefing
Reuters — Manchester affected by NATS Prestwick issue
Associated Press — UK cancellation totals and affected airports
AeroDue provides passenger-rights intelligence. It does not operate airports, provide live flight status, process claims or guarantee compensation.