Ryanair's outspoken CEO, Michael O'Leary, has launched a scathing attack on the UK's air traffic control service, NATS, following a catastrophic technical failure that forced the cancellation of over 600 flights and left thousands of passengers stranded.
The major systems meltdown on Monday triggered widespread travel chaos, affecting not only UK airports but also causing significant disruption across European flight paths. Ryanair, Europe's largest carrier, was among the hardest hit.
Travel Chaos and Mounting Frustration
O'Leary did not mince his words, branding the situation "unacceptable" and calling for a thorough investigation into why NATS's backup systems failed to prevent the cascading crisis. The airline was compelled to cancel a staggering 600 flights, primarily affecting routes to and from the UK.
"Their excuse of a 'technical issue' is unacceptable," O'Leary stated. "NATS needs to explain why their backup systems collapsed, causing a single failure to trigger such widespread travel misery across the UK and over Europe."
Calls for Reform and Compensation
The Ryanair boss is now demanding that NATS account for its failure and face reform. He has also joined other airline executives in pushing for the UK's transport regulator to waive en-route air traffic charges for the cancelled flights, a move that would provide some financial relief to affected carriers.
This incident has thrown a harsh spotlight on the resilience of the UK's critical aviation infrastructure, raising serious questions about its preparedness for handling technical emergencies and its impact on the travelling public.
