Ryanair has called for the sacking of the head of UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS) after air traffic control issues at Gatwick Airport disrupted 100 flights and affected 16,000 passengers over the weekend.
The budget airline urged the new Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, to remove Martin Rolfe as CEO of the partly privatised NATS, following what it described as “UK NATS staff shortages” that led to numerous delays and cancellations on Sunday, September 8. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said, “This is the latest in a long line of cock-ups by UK NATS, which has yet again disrupted multiple flights and thousands of passengers at Gatwick.”
O’Leary, who has repeatedly demanded Rolfe’s dismissal, contends that NATS has consistently failed to hire sufficient air traffic controllers, leading to recurrent travel disruptions, particularly during busy periods. Ryanair, while a smaller operator at Gatwick compared to easyJet, has been vocal in criticising NATS’ performance under Rolfe, who has served as CEO since 2015.
Despite these calls, Rolfe has previously dismissed such criticisms as unprofessional, maintaining that his organisation is committed to delivering safe and efficient air traffic services. NATS, which employs 4,500 staff and is co-owned by the government, industry stakeholders, and employees, has faced scrutiny over Rolfe’s compensation, reportedly exceeding £1 million in salary and bonuses.