Delegates travelling to the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) conference, being held in Athens, have been hit by severe delays as air traffic control problems cause chaos.
The problems stem from the Swanwick air traffic control centre which was affected by computer problems earlier today. This has resulted in air travel problems at airports across the UK.
Many flights are subject to delays of up to six hours, and some are being cancelled.
Registration for the Athens conference is due to start tomorrow, so many of the delegates expected are trying to travel there today.
ICMIF spokesman David Lenton said the federation was concerned.
"We are expecting in the region of 80 delegates, so the number affected could be in the region of 60 or 70.
"We have some of our own staff going out today and tomorrow to greet people so we're hoping they'll get there in time," he said.
However, the situation is not looking very hopeful at present. A spokesman for London Luton Airport, Ian Briggs, said: "The situation is ongoing. We believe operations at the Swanwick centre are getting back to something like full capacity, but now there is a new problem at a centre in Brussels which allocates air slots to the UK.
"There are substantial delays, and when everything is up and running again there will obviously be a backlog of flights."
