Air traffic control chief given week to explain UK flight chaos
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has given Nats chief executive Martin Rolfe a week to explain the technical failure that led to more than 2,000 flight cancellations, and has ordered an independent review by the Civil Aviation Authority.
The head of Britain's air traffic control provider has been given a week to explain the technical failure that caused more than 2,000 flight cancellations and disrupted travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said on Tuesday that she did not believe the latest Nats meltdown was unavoidable, and announced an independent review by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Martin Rolfe, chief executive of National Air Traffic Services, faces calls to resign after a computer problem caused major disruption at UK airports including Heathrow and Gatwick. The government said it remains confident in Rolfe, but Alexander has demanded answers within seven days on the reasons for the system failure that grounded flights across the country.
The disruption has continued to affect passengers for days, with knock-on effects from the failure still being felt at airports nationwide. Tens of thousands of travellers have been caught up in the chaos, with reports of weddings put at risk and disruption expected to last throughout the week as airlines work to reposition aircraft and crew.
Speaking to MPs, Alexander stressed that safety must remain the over-riding priority for air traffic controllers. The transport secretary's comments suggest she believes the incident could have been prevented, putting further pressure on Nats leadership to provide a thorough account of what went wrong.
The Civil Aviation Authority review will examine the circumstances surrounding the technical failure and assess whether adequate safeguards were in place. The independent investigation adds to the scrutiny facing Nats, which has come under fire for repeated disruption to UK air travel in recent years.
Rolfe, who earns a package worth approximately £1.5 million, has been chief executive of Nats since 2018. The latest incident is among the most severe during his tenure, prompting questions from MPs and industry figures about the resilience of the UK's air traffic control infrastructure.
Airlines have been working to clear the backlog of cancelled flights, but passengers have been warned that disruption could continue for several more days. The scale of the cancellations has raised concerns about compensation costs for carriers and the broader economic impact on the aviation sector.
The government's response signals growing frustration with repeated technical problems at Nats. Alexander's decision to commission an external review suggests ministers want a clearer understanding of whether the failures stem from underinvestment, systemic weaknesses, or operational errors within the organisation.
Nats has yet to publish its own account of the failure, and Rolfe's report to the transport secretary will be closely scrutinised when it is delivered. The company faces a difficult week ahead as it attempts to restore confidence among passengers, airlines, and the government alike.
