Ryanair has demanded the resignation of Martin Rolfe, CEO of National Air Traffic Services (NATS), following a technical fault that disrupted 155 flights and affected approximately 30,000 passengers on July 6 and 7, 2026. The budget airline accused NATS of repeated failures, claiming the latest incident demonstrates unresolved underlying problems.
Technical Fault at Met Office Causes Delays
The disruption occurred when NATS was unable to access weather data from the Met Office, leading to overnight delays of up to three hours for Ryanair passengers. NATS confirmed the issue was a technical fault at the Met Office, which temporarily prevented the transmission of vital weather information into its systems. Accurate weather data is essential for air traffic controllers and pilots to manage flights safely, prompting the imposition of temporary air traffic restrictions.
This incident follows a major system collapse in August 2023 that caused widespread cancellations and multi-day delays. Neal McMahon, Ryanair's chief operations officer, criticized NATS, stating: "How many more system failures do passengers have to suffer before Martin Rolfe accepts responsibility and resigns? Nearly three years after NATS’ catastrophic 2023 system meltdown, UK passengers are once again being delayed because NATS’ systems have failed."
Impact on Passengers and Call for Change
McMahon highlighted the broader impact, noting that families traveling for holidays, business travelers, and visitors to the UK have repeatedly suffered due to NATS failures. He added: "Yesterday's outage delayed 155 Ryanair flights and disrupted almost 30,000 Ryanair passengers."
A NATS spokesperson said the organization continues to work with the Met Office to resolve the issue fully. The spokesperson stated: "A Met Office technical issue overnight on July 6/7 meant that we weren't receiving vital weather information into our NATS systems for a short period of time. Accurate weather information is vital for air traffic controllers and pilots in managing flights safely. As a result, some air traffic restrictions were put in place and removed soon after."
Ryanair's Demand for Accountability
Ryanair's demand for Rolfe's resignation underscores the airline's frustration with repeated system failures. The airline argues that NATS has failed to address underlying problems since the 2023 meltdown, and passengers continue to pay the price. The call comes ahead of the busy summer holiday season, raising concerns about further disruptions.
