Easy Jet flights cancelled at Gatwick Airport due to sickness

The budget airline had already been forced to cut flights due to a cap introduced by the airport.

Around 26 flights in and out of Gatwick have been cancelled this morning at short notice due staff sickness in air traffic control. Thirteen of the cancellations are departures.

Gatwick Airport has apologised to passengers affected.

It comes as British Airways announced thousands of flights, including from Gatwick, have been cancelled over the winter period up to March next year.

Queues in the past at Gatwick South Terminal

The airline said those affected by the cancellations would be contacted by them and given an alternative flight or a refund.

A Gatwick Airport spokeswoman said: “At 07.00am, restrictions were put on the number of flights that can arrive into Gatwick due to late notice staff absence in the airport’s control tower.

"Some flights throughout the day may unfortunately be delayed or cancelled as a result. Gatwick would like to apologise for any inconvenience this will cause to our passengers.”

As children get set to return to school, the airport will now return to “business as usual”. The airport announced it was scrapping passenger limits.