Geneva Airport has been forced to close its runways due to a significant technical issue, specifically an air traffic control radar failure, leading to severe disruption for thousands of travellers. The suspension of takeoffs and landings has resulted in inbound flights being diverted to alternative airports, including those from major UK hubs.
Impact on UK Flights and Passenger Chaos
Inbound easyJet services from London Gatwick, Birmingham, and Manchester were among those affected, with flights redirected to Basel and Lyon. The airline confirmed that the disruption stems from an ATC radar failure, which has implemented air traffic control regulations, causing delays not only at Geneva but also at Lyon Airport. Passengers have been warned that even flights not directly landing or taking off from these airports may experience issues if their planned routes overfly the impacted airspace.
Airport Statement and Gradual Resumption
A statement from Geneva Airport indicated that operations are expected to resume gradually, starting at 50 per cent capacity until 11am, then increasing to 80 per cent. However, the initial closure has led to cancellations of some departures, including services to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Zurich, while other flights, particularly those bound for the UK, are facing delays of an hour or more.
Tracking Service Confirms Resolution
According to Flightradar24, the radar failure affected the entire Geneva airspace sector, resulting in average departure delays of 40 minutes. The tracking service noted that the technical issue now appears to have been resolved, but the aftermath continues to cause logistical challenges for airlines and passengers alike.
Passenger Rights and Compensation
Under air passengers' rights regulations, travellers whose flights are delayed by two hours or more may be entitled to refreshments during their wait. For those whose flights are cancelled, airlines are required to arrange alternative travel as soon as possible, provide meals and accommodation until departure, and offer rerouting on any available carrier. It is important to note that cash compensation is not applicable in this instance, as the disruption was caused by a technical failure beyond the airlines' control.
Other flights, such as SAS from Copenhagen and Lufthansa from Frankfurt, were forced to return to their points of origin, adding to the widespread travel chaos. The diverted easyJet flights are now proceeding to Geneva, but the overall impact on schedules is expected to persist throughout the day.
