London airspace is severely restricted following a technical problem, according to Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation. A power outage at Swanwick air traffic control centre is causing major disruption to tens of thousands of travellers. Airspace was expected to remain largely restricted until 7pm tonight, but now (4.30pm) seems to be returning to normal.
Update 4.15pm: Some flights are now taking off again from Gatwick, but heavy disruption is still the watchword.
Update 4.05pm: Airspace is partly open but severely restricted. Stansted is accepting incoming flights but no planes are taking off. It's a similar situation at Gatwick, Luton and Heathrow. City Airport's website has gone down.
Update 3.50pm: No planes are taking off from Heathrow or Gatwick, but flights on approach are landing. Those further out will be diverted elsewhere. No word yet on how this is affecting the other airports in the south-east.
More to follow...
