Ryanair Demands UK’s NATS CEO Resign Over ATC Delays

Ryanair has publicly called for the resignation of Martin Rolfe, CEO of the UK’s National Air Traffic Services (NATS), after thousands of its passengers faced significant delays due to staffing shortages at London-Stansted Airport on May 31, 2025. The airline said nearly 12,000 travelers experienced up to 50-minute delays that could have been avoided with proper air traffic controller staffing.

The incident comes just one day after Ryanair launched its new ‘League of Delays’ campaign, spotlighting countries with the worst-performing air traffic control services across its network. France led the list with over 15,600 delayed flights, followed by Spain with 11,576, Germany with 4,367, Portugal with 2,601, and the UK with 1,642. In total, more than 295,000 Ryanair passengers were delayed in the UK alone between January and late May 2025.

Ryanair claims ATC delays have worsened since the pandemic, despite a 5% drop in flight volumes. The airline also points out that ATC fees have surged by 35% since COVID-19, rising at double the rate of inflation while service quality has declined. According to Ryanair, the root cause of these delays lies in mismanagement and chronic understaffing—particularly during the critical morning wave of flights that sets the tone for daily schedules.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary blamed national governments and EU Transport Ministers for failing to take corrective action. He urged passengers to visit Ryanair’s ‘Air Traffic Control Ruined My Flight’ webpage to demand accountability and push for immediate reforms.

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