Ryanair calls on all UK passengers to take action after 7,000 delayed in one day alone this week

The Irish Sun

20-07-2025

RYANAIR has called on all UK passengers to take action after 7,000 were delayed in just one day this week.
The budget airline is calling on the CEO of the UK's leading provider of air traffic control services to step down following the travel disruption.
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Ryanair has called on all UK passengers to take action after 7,000 were delayed in just one day this week
Credit: LNP
Martin Rolfe, CEO of the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) is facing calls to resign after staff shortages delayed 38 flights by up to an hour this week.
Those delays impacted the travel of over 7,000 UK passengers according to Ryanair.
In a message to its passengers, the airline said: "Ryanair has long campaigned for ATC reform to ensure that ATCs are fully staffed, but UK ATC delays are getting worse due to repeated NATS mismanagement and staff shortages.
'Ryanair calls on all passengers to visit the 'Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight' webpage and demand that Transport Minister, Heidi Alexander, sack Martin Rolfe and reform NATS's hopeless ATC service, so that airlines and passengers do not suffer further avoidable ATC delays at the hands of NATS's continued mismanagement and staff shortages.'
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NATS provides assistance for both civilian and military aircraft in UK airspace and at a number of UK airports.
The message comes just days after easyJet expressed their "extreme unhappiness" with strikes by French air traffic control (ATC) workers.
French ATC staff walked out on July 3 and July 4 in a dispute over working conditions disrupting tens of thousands of passengers.
Flights to and from French airports as well as those due to fly over French airspace were impacted.
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With 70 per cent of short-haul flights going in and out of the UK using French airpsace, easyJet
is heavily reliant on France's air traffic control.
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Issues relating to air traffic control have caused 49 per cent of delays for the
This is a 77 per cent hike compared with the same period last year.
Chief executive, Kenton Jarvis, warned that the industrial action is presenting "unacceptable challenges".
'We are extremely unhappy with the strike action by the French ATC in early July, which as well as presenting unacceptable challenges for customers and crew also created unexpected and significant costs for all airlines," he said.
He added that the walkout earlier this month was "very, very disruptive" as the company was forced to cancel nearly 700 flights at a cost of £15 million.
Travel advice
With a summer of further disruptions expected, The Sun's head of travel Lisa Minot has advised what you should do if travelling this summer.
She said: "Whatever happens if it is [your flight] delayed or cancelled for reasons outside of the the airlines control, then unfortunately there is no compensation due.
"But the airline does have a duty of care to look after you.
"If your flight is cancelled and it is the airline's fault ... then you could be due compensation.
"It could be anything up to £520."
Last month
The airline revealed the worst air traffic control centres (ATCs) for delays and this included the UK as the fifth worst.
Ryanair said that the
Micheal O'Leary, the airline's CEO, also said that if staff shortages and ATC issues are not sorted, there will be "record ATC flight delays this summer".
The airline's 'League of Delays' revealed that France and Spain have been the most impacted so far this year, with 15,634 and 11,576 flights delayed respectively.
The airline has also claimed that 90 per cent of their flight cancellations during the French ATC strikes, could have been avoided if overflights over France were allowed to take place.
Many airlines are now calling on
This would mean that airlines would not follow diversions via several points, but instead fly straight to a destination.
Flight compensation rules
A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
If you're flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.
You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven't used yet.
So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.
But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.
When am I not entitled to compensation?
The airline doesn't have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.
Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation.
Some airlines may stretch the definition of "extraordinary circumstances" but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?
If you can't claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.
Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.
Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.
If your flight is cancelled entirely, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance.