Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has called for the resignation of English Nats chief executive Martin Rolfe, because of ongoing air traffic control staff shortages that led to flight disruptions at Gatwick Airport.
Frequent disruptions at Gatwick Airport have sparked frustration, with O’Leary stating that passengers and airlines “deserve better” service from Nats.
Nats maintains it is operating according to a staffing plan agreed with Gatwick, which includes ongoing training to alleviate staffing shortages since it began providing ATC services at the airport in October 2022.
O’Leary previously called for Rolfe to resign after significant disruptions during last year’s August Bank Holiday Monday due to an inability of the body to respond to a technical failure.
Mr O’Leary said: “Nats staff shortages caused multiple flight delays and cancellations at Gatwick Airport yesterday, Sunday September 8. This is the latest in a long line of cock-ups by Nats, which has yet again disrupted multiple flights and thousands of passengers at Gatwick. Airlines and passengers deserve better. Ryanair again calls on Nats chief executive Martin Rolfe to step down and allow someone competent to run an efficient UK ATC service, which airlines and passengers are entitled to expect. “If he won’t go, then Louise Haigh (new Westminster Transport Secretary) should sack him.”
