NATS chief Martin Rolfe clings to his job after Burnham refuses to back him over SECOND meltdown in two weeks
From the Newshound archive · first published 21 September 2026 · last updated 22 September 2026.
Ryanair boss Neal McMahon demanded Martin Rolfe resign immediately, saying the NATS chief had "presided over repeated system failures" and "repeated failures to deliver an effective back-up system." A connectivity issue at the Prestwick centre grounded around 150 flights and disrupted tens of thousands of passengers across Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland. Andy Burnham pointedly refused to defend Rolfe, telling reporters the Transport Secretary must "get to the bottom of what is behind this and why there has been a recurrence."
Bride-to-be Barbara Ann Stoddart risks missing her Las Vegas wedding on Saturday after her Glasgow-to-Heathrow flight was cancelled.
EasyJet called the latest failure proof of a need for "firm actions," while Wizz Air warned of a "national confidence crisis" in NATS.
Passengers stranded on board planes were warned they would forfeit compensation if they disembarked — leaving families sweating for hours in the heat.