Michael O’Leary has called for Martin Rolfe – the person in charge of the UK’s air traffic control (ATC) systems – to resign from his post or be sacked, in the wake of the latest ATC disruption.
Thousands of passengers have been left stranded, yesterday and today, after more than 100 flights were cancelled at London’s Gatwick Airport due to a staff shortage at Nats, the body which controls the UK’s ATC systems.
It is not the first time Mr O’Leary has called for Mr Rolfe’s removal; having done so after a Nats technical outage caused widespread disruption across UK airports last year.
The Ryanair group CEO 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. Airlines and passengers deserve better.
“Ryanair again calls on UK 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 [new UK transport minister) Louise Haigh should sack him.”
