National Air Traffic Services: Operational Failure - Question

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 3:09 pm on 5 September 2023.

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Photo of Lord Young of Cookham Lord Young of Cookham Deputy Chairman of Committees 3:09, 5 September 2023

My Lords, last week 2,000 flights were cancelled because of NATS’s inability to process flight plans, and a quarter of a million passengers were grounded. When airlines are responsible for delays, they must pay compensation to the passenger and pay for alternative flights, accommodation and food. When NATS is responsible for delays, no compensation is payable at all—and, worse, the airlines have to pick up the bill for alternative flights, food and accommodation, which, in this case, was £100 million. Both NATS and the airlines are commercial companies—NATS had a profit of £150 million last year—so is not the differential compensation between NATS, on the one hand, and airlines, on the other, wholly indefensible?