Ryanair Demands Resignation of NATS CEO Martin Rolfe Following Another Major Air Traffic Control System Failure
Ryanair, the United Kingdom’s leading low-fare airline, has today issued a scathing statement calling for the immediate resignation of Martin Rolfe, Chief Executive Officer of NATS (National Air Traffic Services), after a fresh air traffic control (ATC) system failure caused widespread disruption across the UK aviation sector.
The system outage, which began in the early hours of Wednesday, has reportedly caused flight delays exceeding four hours and led to the diversion of multiple Ryanair services, affecting thousands of passengers. This is the second major ATC system failure attributed to NATS in less than a year, reviving harsh criticism about the agency’s management and technological infrastructure.
Ryanair Calls for Accountability
In its public statement, Ryanair expressed deep frustration with what it views as continued systemic failures at NATS under Rolfe’s leadership. The airline noted that the latest disruption has inconvenienced tens of thousands of travelers — many of whom are families heading on long-anticipated summer holidays — and caused a logistical nightmare for airline operators and airport authorities alike.
“It is utterly unacceptable that passengers traveling to and from the UK are once again suffering needless air traffic control delays due to another NATS system failure,” the airline stated. “This level of incompetence and poor leadership cannot continue. The management of NATS must be held accountable, and the time has come for Martin Rolfe to resign.”
Recurring Failures Raise Deeper Concerns
Ryanair’s demand follows a major ATC incident in August 2023, which also originated from a technical malfunction within the NATS control systems. That episode grounded hundreds of flights across UK and European airspace, triggering operational chaos and prompting an investigation into the resilience and preparedness of NATS’ IT and communications infrastructure.
According to Ryanair, the fact that such a critical failure has reoccurred within less than 12 months indicates a deeper systemic issue that remains unresolved. The airline argues that despite widespread public outrage and industry scrutiny following the August 2023 disruption, NATS has made no meaningful improvements to its systems or contingency planning.
“Clearly, no lessons were learned from the 2023 meltdown,” the airline’s statement read. “The traveling public and airline staff are once again paying the price for Martin Rolfe’s inability to modernize or properly manage essential air traffic systems.”
A Direct Impact on Airlines and Passengers
Ryanair reports that the latest NATS failure has impacted its operations at multiple UK airports including London Stansted, Manchester, and Edinburgh, resulting in both significant delays and the diversion of several aircraft mid-flight. The airline emphasized that such disruptions not only inconvenience passengers but also create additional costs for airlines, such as fuel surcharges, landing fees at alternate airports, crew reassignments, and compensation to affected customers under EU261 regulations.
“With today’s disruption, airlines are left scrambling to adjust flight schedules, reposition aircraft, and support thousands of stranded passengers,” said a Ryanair spokesperson. “Yet again, we are being forced to clean up the mess caused by NATS’ incompetence — a mess that should never have happened in the first place.”
A Call for Government Intervention
Ryanair is also calling on the UK government and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to intervene directly, launching an independent inquiry into the repeated failures of NATS’ systems and the leadership of its executive team. The airline argues that the UK aviation industry — a critical contributor to the country’s economy — cannot afford to operate under the threat of such recurrent disruptions.
“We are urging the Secretary of State for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority to step in and investigate how and why NATS continues to fail in its core responsibility to safely and reliably manage UK airspace,” Ryanair stated. “If necessary, a change of leadership must be mandated to protect the future of UK aviation.”
Ryanair further insisted that NATS should be required to compensate both airlines and passengers for the costs and inconvenience resulting from its operational failures. The airline pointed out that private companies operating in other essential public service sectors — such as energy or rail — would not be permitted to continue operations without accountability following repeated service failures.
Industry-wide Repercussions
NATS, which is responsible for managing the UK’s airspace and providing air traffic control services for over 2 million flights per year, plays a vital role in ensuring the safe and efficient flow of aircraft across domestic and international routes. Its technological infrastructure and operational reliability are critical not only for commercial airlines but also for national security and emergency response coordination.
Aviation analysts have noted that repeated outages such as those experienced in August 2023 and July 2025 undermine public confidence in UK aviation and raise serious questions about the resilience of essential national infrastructure.
“This is not just about one or two delayed flights,” said an industry observer. “We are talking about the backbone of the UK’s air travel system. If NATS can’t maintain reliable operations, the implications stretch far beyond the airline industry. The government needs to take this very seriously.”
Ryanair’s Position: A Leadership Change Is Essential
Ryanair maintains that the only viable path forward is a change in leadership at NATS. The airline has accused Martin Rolfe of being “overpaid and underperforming,” and has argued that a new CEO is required to overhaul the agency’s systems, management culture, and crisis response strategy.
“There comes a time when leadership must take responsibility,” the airline stated. “After two system-wide failures in less than 12 months, it is evident that Martin Rolfe is out of his depth. He must step aside to allow someone with the vision, competence, and technical expertise to restore trust in the UK’s air traffic control system.”
Ryanair concluded its statement by reaffirming its commitment to minimizing disruptions for passengers, including offering rebooking assistance and compensation where appropriate, while continuing to push for long-term reforms within NATS.
A Critical Juncture for UK Aviation
As pressure mounts, industry stakeholders and government officials will likely face increasing demands to re-evaluate the governance and structure of NATS. The twin crises of 2023 and 2025 may serve as catalysts for modernization, but for Ryanair — and the thousands of passengers affected by today’s events — the priority is clear: a leadership change must happen now.
Whether Martin Rolfe will heed Ryanair’s calls and step down remains to be seen. But with public frustration mounting and airline confidence shaken, the spotlight on NATS — and its CEO — is unlikely to dim anytime soon.