easyJet has issued a statement on this afternoon’s cancellations, saying that flights “may still be subject to some disruption in the coming hours” and confirming that customers can claim for appropriate compensation.

An easyJet spokesperson said: “easyJet can confirm that the earlier IT systems issues have now been rectified.

“Unfortunately, they resulted in some cancellations earlier today and while we expect to operate most of our remaining flying programme, some may still be subject to some disruption in the coming hours.

“We advise customers due to travel with us to continue to check Flight Tracker for the status of their flight before making their way to the airport.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused and customers can apply for compensation in line with regulations.”

Amid today’s cancellations and delays, one easyJet passenger has celebrated arriving at the airline’s biggest base, London Gatwick, early - 15 minutes ahead of schedule, to be exact.

The traveller was on a flight from Inverness. Their aircraft had departed from Gatwick minutes before the IT systems failure grounded operations.

The plane turned around at Inverness as normal. It left a few minutes late, but made up time – and, with far fewer easyJet flights around at normally congested Gatwick, arrived ahead of schedule.

Nearly an hour and a half after the initial “IT systems issue”, easyJet has issued a Twitter statement apologising to customers.

“We apologise to all customers whose flights have been affected by IT system issues. You can check your flight status here,” the airline wrote in a social media post.

The post links to its flight tracker page, where you can search by flight number or departure and arrival point.

A tranche of Thursday evening flights from Gatwick and Manchester have now been cancelled, including tonight’s Gatwick-Hurghada flight and Manchester’s Milan Malpensa flight.

Another tranche of easyJet flights has been cancelled into Thursday evening.

From Gatwick Airport, easyJet’s biggest base, departures to Hurghada in Egypt, Copenhagen, Paris CDG, Geneva, Munich and Malaga have now been axed.

At Manchester, key holiday flights to Faro in Portugal and Milan Malpensa in Italy have been added to the original dozen cancellations.

For each outbound flight that is cancelled, upwards of 150 passengers are likely to be waiting at the other end of the route to fly home.

The Independent is listing the known cancellations here:

easyJet customers are taking to social media to complain about being stranded abroad due to the airline’s IT complications this afternoon.

“Thanks @easyJet for cancelling our flight from Prague to Manchester 2 hours before ! We have had to pay for a hotel tonight, another flight tomorrow and all our expenses. No explanation given and zero help from ground crew,” wrote David Keogh.

“Top work @easyJet leaving 200 plus people stranded until Monday in Pisa due to a cancelled flight,” wrote Twitter user Phil.

Ceitidh wrote: “Hi there, my sister is currently stranded at Palma airport with two four-year-old children and unable to get back to Glasgow after her flight was cancelled. Could you please advise on what she should do in order to get home?”

Many messages touched on the lack of communication from the airline.

Suzanne Seyghal wrote: “Dear @easyJet, have you tried switching it off and an again? You’re welcome. Yours, one of thousands of disgruntled passengers with ruined holiday plans... (PS: if you ever need some comms advice let me know - info was definitely lacking today...)”

In today’s Ask Me Anything event, The Independent’s Simon Calder has received a question about how today’s easyJet cancellations could impact flights with the airline later in the week.

One reader asks: “We’re due to fly with easyJet on Sunday. Is there a possibility that those who have had their flights cancelled today could be given our seats? Our flight is fully booked.”

Simon answers: “A really good question. The answer is no. Once someone’s flight is cancelled, they go right to the back of the queue for subsequent departures.

“However, as the article here explains, easyJet must do whatever it takes to get them to their destination on the original day of travel or as soon as possible thereafter, including buying tickets on rival airlines.”

The Ask Me Anything event is ongoing until 5pm - join the conversation in the comments box here:

An easyJet representative has said that a message claiming Thursday afternoon’s cancellations were caused by “extraordinary circumstances” - thus invalidating any compensation claims by passengers affected - was “sent in error”.

The spokesperson said: “The IT systems issue is now rectified. Unfortunately the ‘extraordinary’ was sent in error.

“We consider the cancellations related to the IT systems issues to be non-extraordinary. We will be reissuing customer comms to those who have received the incorrect information.”

Caught up in the easyJet chaos today? Flight cancelled earlier this week? Concerned about this summer’s projected general travel chaos?

Our travel expert Simon Calder is just sitting down to answer your questions - go to the link below and comment at the bottom of the page to ask yours.

You may have to register in order to submit your question in the comments box.

Join the conversation here:

This week, several readers have reported that easyJet has offered them a replacement flight several days after the day their flight was cancelled by the airline.

Is this allowed?

The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder says: “You are entitled to travel on the original day of departure, if there is any commercial way of getting you to your destination. You should give the cancelling airline the opportunity to arrange a new flight (or, for destinations such as Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam, a Eurostar train).

“Airlines understandably want to keep passengers on their own services, but there are clear limits. The Civil Aviation Authority says that if the cancelling airline has another flight on the same day, it can rebook you on that (and provide meals while you wait).

“If the cancelling airline cannot or will not meet its obligation, you should buy a ticket and then claim it back.”

Tens of thousands of easyJet passengers have had their flights cancelled because of a failure of the airline’s IT systems.

At least 200 flights have been cancelled across the network.

So what are your consumer rights if your journey is axed at the last minute?

• ensure its passengers are flown where they need to be as soon as possible
• provide hotels and meals as appropriate

In addition, it appears that passengers are due compensation of either £220 (for flights of under 1,500km) or £350 (longer flights).

Here’s the full breakdown of what airlines owe customers in the event of a cancellation: