- Ryanair CEO writes open letter demanding NATS CEO dismissal
- Third English ATC system collapse in three years took place on 8 September 2026
- More than 800 flights cancelled and 200,000 passengers disrupted
- O’Leary states Rolfe is incompetent and unfit for the post
- Westminster government holds 49pc shareholding in NATS with £170m annual dividends
Ryanair group chief executive Michael O’Leary has written an open letter to England’s tansport minister Heidi Alexander demanding the immediate dismissal of NATS CEO Martin Rolfe following the third English air traffic control system collapse in three years on 8 September 2026. The letter states that the latest failure, described as a flight plan processing failure, brought air travelin the airspace to a standstill and caused cancellations of more than 800 flights while disrupting the flight plans of more than 200,000 passengers. O’Leary has stated that Rolfe is incompetent and unfit to run the NATS ATC system.
The letter references Rolfe’s previous assurances to the House of Commons Transport Committee in 2023 that the August 2023 collapse was a once in a lifetime event that would not recur and that an effective back up system would be in place. O’Leary noted that further system failures took place in July 2025 and again on 8 September 2026, questioning why the same person who presided over these repeated collapses remains in post. The letter also states that NATS ATC is one of the most expensive services in Europe and among the least effective, with Rolfe paid more than £1.5m annually.
O’Leary has called on the Transport Secretary to explain why only England ’s ATC system keeps collapsing when French, Spanish, Irish, German and Italian systems do not suffer similar failures. The letter notes that the Westminster government holds a 49pc shareholding in NATS and has taken dividends of over £170m annually in recent years, accounting for almost all annual profits. O’Leary has stated that Ryanair has no confidence in Martin Rolfe and no confidence in assurances that lessons will be learned, calling for immediate action rather than reports or investigations.
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair Group Chief Executive, shared: “Martin Rolfe, who is paid more than £1.5m a year, has demonstrated, not once, not twice, but three times that he is incompetent, and unfit for the post he holds. The time for excuses is over, the time for action is now. Sack Martin Rolfe, replace him with somebody competent. Ryanair, which is the Britain’s largest passenger airline, has no confidence in Martin Rolfe. We also have no confidence in your assurance that this time lessons will be learned.”
