It comes after NATS’ revelation ‘unusual data’ in the system led to more than 1,000 flight cancellations.
Holidaymakers are still being impacted with many still stranded overseas.
While the issue is out of airlines’ control, PM Rishi Sunak urged airlines to ‘honour their obligations’ with accommodation and rebooking flights.
Airlines are not required to pay out specific flight compensation, but IATA predicts airlines could lose about £100m in costs and lost revenue.
IATA chief Willie Walsh said that the UK should ‘look at the way passenger compensation is dealt with so those responsible ultimately bear the costs,’
“It’s very unfair because the air traffic control system, which was at the heart of this failure, doesn’t pay a single penny.”
The ease at which incompatible data effectively disabled the NATS system ’demonstrates a considerable weakness’ Walsh said.
Tags: IATA, Willie Walsh, Airlines
