to get a bit of background on what's gone on, i spoke to simon coulter, travel correspondent at the independenthat it appears that their entire system, the digital air traffic control system, has failed, they are getting aircraft down safely but they are drastically reducing the so—called flow rate, the rate at which aircraft can land. bear in mind that london heathrow is the busiest two runway airport in the world and london gatwick is the busiest single runway airport in the world, this is one of the busiest days of the year, hundreds of thousands of people coming back from various parts of the world to get to, after the holidays in the mediterranean and a broad, and unfortunately, we are seeing the system failure. there is no certainty about when it is going to be fixed, which is extremely concerning. planes are being held on the ground at various european departure points because there is no clarity about when they might be able to get in and land, and departure is also being held from uk airports. given the overstretch in the system even at the best of times, i'm afraid this looks to me as

the independent travel writer simon coulter is standing by for us and i think we can cross to him nowlled her. i do not want to say that the technical issues here but will try him straightaway. simon, technical issues with air traffic control and with our line as well but will keep going. just tell us what we know? the well but will keep going. just tell us what we know?— well but will keep going. just tell us what we know? the national air traffic service _ us what we know? the national air traffic service run _ us what we know? the national air traffic service run all _ us what we know? the national air traffic service run all the _ us what we know? the national air traffic service run all the systems | traffic service run all the systems across uk airspace. it appears that their entire system, the digital air traffic control system, has failed. they are getting a aircraft down safely but they are drastically reducing the flow rate, the rate at which aircraft can land football. bearin which aircraft can land football. bear in mind that london heathrow is the busiest airport in the w