Ryanair has criticised last week’s decision by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to permit NATS (National Air Traffic Services) to raise ATC charges.
The decision by the UK aviation regulator with see Air Traffic Control (ATC) charges rise by a 26% from 2023 to 2027.
This decision has not only ignited a heated debate but also sparked concerns about the future cost of air travel in the UK.
A Bumpy Ride: The Background
The backdrop to this fiery debate is marked by recent events which Ryanair say have tested the patience of passengers and the tolerance of airlines.
The summer of 2023 witnessed a series of UK ATC delays, making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
[monsterinsights_popular_posts_inline]
Then, on the infamous 28th of August, the ATC system suffered a catastrophic collapse, resulting in over 2,000 UK flight cancellations and an additional 5,000 flights facing significant delays.
This incident sent shockwaves through the industry, and Ryanair is now questioning why NATS should be granted a 26% price hike in light of such repeated and glaring failures.
The Cost of Failure
To put this in perspective, Ryanair states that it is already forking out almost €100 million annually for UK ATC services, which have been plagued by issues.
These problems include chronic understaffing, arbitrary capacity restrictions, and ongoing flight delays.
The situation reached its peak when the ATC system crumbled on that fateful August day, causing significant disruptions. Ryanair alone had to bear the brunt of a £15 million bill due to the ATC failures.
A Call for Accountability
NATS, a vital component of the UK aviation ecosystem, now finds itself under a spotlight of scrutiny. Many, including Ryanair, firmly believe that NATS should be held accountable for its shortcomings.
It is their opinion that the CAA should require NATS to reimburse airlines for the financial losses they’ve endured as a result of the ATC failures.
Until NATS can provide consistent ATC staffing, particularly during the busy summer season, many argue that any price increases should be off the table.
Seeking Solutions
Ryanair places a significant portion of the blame on NATS’ leadership, particularly CEO Martin Rolfe, whose salary is perceived as excessive.
They assert that until competent management is in place, the CAA should not be endorsing NATS with a 26% fee increase. In the eyes of Ryanair, this decision is illogical and tantamount to rewarding incompetence.
CEO Perspective
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s CEO, expressed his astonishment at the CAA’s decision. He emphasized that NATS had been repeatedly delaying flights due to mismanaged staff rosters and operational chaos.
Furthermore, the collapse of the ATC system on that ominous day in August remains unexplained. O’Leary contends that NATS has been requesting last-minute schedule cuts at airports like Gatwick due to the mismanagement of ATC operations.
In his view, NATS should not be rewarded for such mismanagement with increased fees.
Ryanair’s stance is clear. They call upon the CAA to re-evaluate their decision and halt the 26% price hike.
They assert that no price increase should be considered until NATS can deliver the service they are already being paid for without staff shortages, capacity restrictions, and system shutdowns.
Click the banner to subscribe to our weekly newsleter.
 to raise ATC charges.){kind=link}