Ryanair, the UK’s No.1 low fares airline, renewed its call on NATS CEO, Martin Rolfe, to resign after 6,000 passengers travelling to/from the UK on Tues (5^th Aug) suffered avoidable ATC delays due to repeated NATS mismanagement and staff shortages.

These latest NATS ATC delays come less than a week after a NATS ATC system failure forced the closure of UK Airspace, causing delays of over 4hrs which unfairly disrupted thousands of passengers. These repeated NATS ATC disruptions show that Martin Rolfe has failed to learn anything from the August 2023 NATS system outage and reinforces his clear incapability to sufficiently manage and staff NATS ATC services. The only solution to these repeated NATS ATC disruptions is for Martin Rolfe to quit and let someone competent take over.

Ryanair’s Director of Comms, Jade Kirwan, said:

“It is high time that Martin Rolfe shows UK passengers due consideration by stepping down as NATS CEO and allowing someone competent take over, who won’t preside over UK passengers being disrupted time and time again due to NATS staff shortages and repeated ATC system failures.

There is no excuse for 6,000 UK passengers to have suffered ATC delays today (Tues, 5 Aug) – less than a week after thousands more passengers were disrupted by yet another NATS ATC system failure. The UK ATC service is in shambles at the hands of Martin Rolfe and must urgently be reformed, starting with his immediate resignation.”