Ryanair Directs Passenger Complaints to UK Transport Minister Amidst Flight Delays
Ryanair is urging passengers impacted by flight delays to contact UK Transport Minister Heidi Alexander directly, responding to a surge of complaints regarding disruptions. The airline attributes the delays not to its own operations, but to failings within the UK’s air traffic control (ATC) system.
Ryanair has prominently displayed Alexander’s email address on a dedicated webpage titled ‘Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight’ (or ‘Air Traffic Regulatory Service Damaging your flight’), making it publicly accessible.The airline reports that 5,782 flights have been affected by delays stemming from issues with NATS, the UK’s primary ATC service provider, between the beginning of the year and September 1st.
The airline is specifically calling on Minister Alexander to address shortcomings within NATS, citing “mismanagement and lack of staff” as the root causes of the disruptions. Ryanair argues that NATS’s issues are a result of incorrect staffing levels and broader organizational problems.
The UK government holds a 49% stake in NATS, alongside “gold shares” granting them additional control over the company.
“It is not acceptable that mismanagement and lack of staff in the ATC NATS service continues to cause disruption to flights and passengers in the UK,” stated Ryanair Director of Dialog, Jade Kirwan, in a statement reported by The Independent on September 20, 2025.”This year alone, more than one million Ryanair passengers, many of them travelling for a vacation with young families, have suffered unnecessary ATC delays and should be avoided. All of this is because Minister Alexander has not taken action to ensure British ATC services have adequate staff.”
Ryanair is advocating for immediate improvements to national ATC services to prevent further delays. NATS declined to comment on the situation, but recently referenced data from Eurocontrol, the European Air Traffic Management Agency. According to Eurocontrol, NATS handled 23.7% of European air traffic in July 2025 and was responsible for 1.8% of flight delays across Europe.
Passengers affected by the delays have taken to social media to share their experiences, detailing lengthy airport waits, missed connections, and cancelled vacations. Many have expressed frustration with the lack of information and accountability from NATS. Online petitions and open letters demanding ATC service improvements, compensation, and a direct explanation from the Transport Minister are circulating. Spontaneous protests have also occurred at some airports, with passengers demanding transparency and a concrete plan to resolve the ongoing delays.
