A major IT failure at Edinburgh Airport's air traffic control provider brought all departures and arrivals to a standstill on Friday morning, 5 December 2025, causing significant disruption for thousands of passengers. The airport confirmed the issue led to a full halt in operations before services were eventually restored.
Chaos and Confusion for Passengers
The problems began in the morning, with the airport announcing that no flights were operating. Teams worked urgently to resolve the issue, but no initial timeframe for recovery was given. Passengers inside the terminal were met with sudden announcements of cancellations and delays.
Morven McCall, 19, who was due to fly to Amsterdam on EasyJet with friend Cody Stevenson for their first trip together, described the moment they heard the news. "We literally just got into the airport and as soon as we walked through the door there was an announcement that it had been cancelled," she said. "I was ill over the summer and had to cancel two holidays already... We are just gutted and stressed."
Stranded on the Tarmac and Seeking Information
The disruption affected passengers at various stages of their journey. One traveller was already on board their aircraft when the issue arose. "We boarded our flight and pushed back on time for 8.45 departure, then sat for a while, before the pilot told us what's happening," they explained. They praised the cabin crew for handing out water and providing updates, noting the surprisingly upbeat mood, but concerns grew about the length of the delay.
Another passenger reported hearing an airport announcement halfway through boarding, stating the airfield was closed due to air traffic control being down. "No one knew what was going on," they said, suspecting problems started around 9:00 am.
Service Resumes After Morning of Disruption
Later in the morning, Edinburgh Airport posted an update on X, formerly Twitter, stating: "Flights have now resumed following the IT issue with our air traffic provider. We thank passengers for their patience and understanding."
The ripple effects of the IT failure were felt across travel networks. Edinburgh Trams also posted a warning to passengers heading to the airport about the flight disruption. The airport, which serves an average of 43,000 passengers daily via 37 airlines to 155 destinations, urged affected travellers to contact their airlines directly for the latest flight information.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of modern air travel to technical faults in critical systems, causing travel chaos for thousands at one of Scotland's busiest hubs.
