The airline has been campaigning on the issue for some time
Ryanair is encouraging passengers who have experienced air traffic control (ATC) delays to voice their complaints directly to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. The Irish airline has taken the bold step of publishing the Cabinet minister’s personal Parliament email address on a website aptly named Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight.
The email address was already in the public domain. According to Ryanair, 5,782 of its flights were delayed by issues with the UK’s ATC provider Nats from the beginning of the year until September 1.
Ryanair has urged Ms Alexander to “fix” Nats, which it has labelled as “mismanaged and short-staffed”. The Government is the largest shareholder in the public-private company, holding a 49% stake. It also possesses a golden share, granting it additional control.
Jade Kirwan, Ryanair’s director of communications, said: “It is unacceptable that Nats’ ATC mismanagement and staff shortages continue to cause disruption to UK flights and passengers.
“Already this year, more than one million Ryanair passengers – many of whom were travelling on holidays with young families – have suffered unnecessary and avoidable ATC delays, and all because Minister Alexander has not taken action to properly staff UK ATC services.
“Ryanair calls on all passengers to visit the Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight webpage and demand that their national transport minister – like Minister Alexander – take urgent action to fix their national ATC services and stop these needless ATC delays.”
The website showcases a spoof video of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen smacking an airline passenger. Ryanair has criticised Ms von der Leyen for not doing enough to enhance ATC services.
Nats declined to comment. It recently cited figures from European air traffic management body Eurocontrol showing the company handled 23.7% of Europe’s traffic in July, and was accountable for 1.8% of delays to flights.
The Department for Transport has been approached for a comment.