The boss of National Air Traffic Services (Nats), Martin Rolfe, has apologised to passengers and ruled out a cyber-attack as the cause of widespread flight disruption that has entered its second day, with more than 1,300 flights cancelled to and from UK airports.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Martin Rolfe, the chief executive of Nats, said the organisation takes full accountability for the disruption caused by a technical issue that emerged on Tuesday. He stressed that safety was the primary concern and that the decision to cancel flights was not taken lightly.
"I'd like to start, as you might expect, by apologising to everyone who's been impacted by the issue that we had yesterday," Rolfe said. "In terms of the recovery, I absolutely understand the frustration. There is nothing we hate more than delaying people, and not allowing them to get to their destination. It disrupts airports and disrupts airlines. And we absolutely take accountability and responsibility for that. That is our job. But our job is also to make sure that people stay safe. We never do this lightly."
Rolfe confirmed that a full investigation is underway but said that a cyber-attack has been ruled out as a potential cause. "We have at this point ruled out cyber. We don't believe it was a cyber attack," he added.
He described the response by Nats engineers and software partners as swift, ensuring the issue was resolved as quickly as possible, though the knock-on effects continue to cause cancellations and delays for airlines and passengers across the UK.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The disruption has affected tens of thousands of passengers at the start of the autumn travel season, highlighting the fragility of critical air traffic control infrastructure.
- The apology and ruling out of cyber-attack provide some clarity but raise questions about the root cause of the technical failure and whether Nats has adequate system resilience.
- Airlines face significant operational and financial costs from rebooking passengers and repositioning aircraft, with knock-on effects expected to persist for several days.
Background
National Air Traffic Services (Nats) is the UK's principal air navigation service provider, responsible for managing the country's airspace. A technical issue on Tuesday forced the system to limit the number of flights it could handle, leading to widespread cancellations and delays. The incident is the latest example of travel disruption caused by IT failures, though previous events involving Nats—such as a major system outage in 2014—were unrelated to this week's problem. The UK transport secretary is expected to meet with Nats leadership as the situation unfolds.
Key Perspectives
Nats/Martin Rolfe: The organisation has apologised, taken responsibility, and emphasised that safety procedures were correctly followed. It has ruled out a cyber-attack and is conducting a thorough investigation.
Passengers: Those affected face significant inconvenience, with many unable to reach their destinations and rebooking processes causing frustration. The prolonged disruption adds to travel uncertainty.
Critics/Skeptics: Some may question why a single technical issue could cause such extensive and prolonged disruption, and whether Nats has sufficient backup systems or contingency plans in place.
What to Watch
- The outcome of Nats' full investigation and whether the technical issue is identified as a hardware fault, software bug, or human error.
- The UK transport secretary's meeting with Nats and any subsequent government review or regulatory action.
- Whether airlines seek compensation from Nats or pursue legal action for the costs incurred during the disruption.