What should you do if your Newcastle flight is cancelled?

The travel chaos follows a major system failure at the National Air Traffic Service (NATS), which left thousands of passengers facing cancellations and delays.

More than 1,300 flights to and from UK airports were cancelled on Tuesday, with further disruption expected as airlines tackle the knock-on effects.

Newcastle Airport has also been hit, with cancellations and delays continuing today.

But what should you do if your flight is cancelled?

easyJet

easyJet passengers with cancelled flights can choose from several options through the airline’s Manage Bookings service or app.

You can switch to another easyJet flight free of charge, subject to availability.

If no direct flight is available, easyJet says passengers can search for flights to or from nearby airports in the same country, or take an indirect flight on its network.

Your checked-baggage allowance will stay the same, and easyJet will keep you in your paid-for seat or as close to it as possible.

easyJet said: “Your checked luggage allowance will remain the same and we’ll apply this to your new flight. If you’ve paid for a seat, we’ll keep you in the same one or as close to it as possible.”

If you are already at the airport, collect your checked luggage and clear customs before starting your journey again.

You must then check in for the new booking and go through security again.

easyJet says passengers can select only flights to or from the countries in their original booking.

British Airways

British Airways passengers can rebook on the next available BA flight free of charge through Manage My Booking.

Passengers can also call British Airways to ask about a flight with another airline.

Passengers can discuss alternative transport if BA cannot offer a suitable flight within 24 hours.

Passengers can also request a refund.

If the next available flight is the following day, BA says it will provide a hotel overnight.

Passengers who booked through a travel agent or tour operator should contact them directly about their options or a refund.

BA says passengers can also use its live chat service for help.

TUI

TUI passengers should check for updates and monitor flight departures for delay information.

Passengers should continue to check in as normal unless TUI has contacted them with different instructions.

If you are denied boarding, or your flight is cancelled or delayed by at least three hours, speak to TUI staff about your rights, including compensation and assistance.

More disruption expected

NATS warned that the aviation network would take time to recover from the disruption.

On Tuesday night, it said: “Work is continuing to assist airlines and airports recover from today’s disruption.

“This has been a very complex recovery and has created difficulties for the whole aviation network, from which it will take time to recover. We apologise again for the disruption caused. Passengers should check with their airline on the status of their flight tonight or tomorrow.”

NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe said the system was operating normally again but warned of a “huge tail to the disruption”.

He said there would be a “thorough” investigation and ruled out a cyber attack.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband called the disruption “frankly unacceptable” and said Britain could not allow Tuesday’s problems to happen again.

Newcastle Airport said its operations had not been affected to the same extent as some southern airports, although some departures were delayed.