Ryanair has issued a scathing statement, calling the ongoing air traffic control (ATC) delays caused by NATS 'simply unacceptable' after over 133,000 passengers were affected in April 2026 alone. The budget airline, which operates flights from Birmingham, reported a staggering 142 per cent increase in delays compared to April 2025, with total disruption exceeding 115 hours.
Stansted hit hard by staff shortages
On April 28, more than 1,800 Ryanair passengers travelling to and from London Stansted suffered avoidable delays due to a lack of standby controllers and ongoing staff shortages at NATS. The airline claims these issues are a direct result of mismanagement and repeated equipment failures.
Ryanair demands action
Ryanair's head of communications, Dara Brady, did not mince words: 'UK passengers are once again being let down by NATS’ failing ATC service. In April alone, over 133,000 Ryanair passengers suffered avoidable delays – up 142 per cent on last year – with more than 115 hours of disruption caused by NATS mismanagement, staff shortages and equipment failures.'
Brady added: 'Yesterday at Stansted, over 1,800 Ryanair passengers were delayed because NATS did not have enough standby controllers. This is simply unacceptable. It is indefensible that NATS paid a £171m dividend to shareholders while its service continues to fail passengers.'
Dividends over service?
Ryanair argues that the £171 million dividend paid to NATS shareholders should have been invested in fixing staffing shortages, improving standby cover, and upgrading systems. 'This money should have been spent fixing staffing shortages, improving standby cover and upgrading systems – not handed to shareholders while passengers suffer,' Brady said.
He concluded: 'NATS CEO Martin Rolfe must explain why passengers are still enduring avoidable delays while NATS prioritises dividends over delivering a functioning ATC service. UK passengers deserve better than repeated delays, poor staffing and endless excuses.'
The airline has called on NATS to urgently address the failings, warning that without immediate improvements, the situation will continue to deteriorate.
