Ryanair v ATC again!!
Found this on Ryanair's website today;
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31.07.08
UK ATC Staff Shortages and Equipment Failures Again Cause Serious Delays
Today (31 July) UK Air Traffic Control equipment failure is causing widespread and serious delays to passengers across the UK. Last week, over 13,000 Ryanair passengers and 87 Ryanair flights were delayed by UK Air Traffic Control (NATS). Since March of this year, air traffic control delays caused by NATS staff shortages have increased by more than 200%.
Every year the same sorry pattern is repeated - NATS fails to prepare for the busy Summer, following a quieter Winter. The resulting staff shortages and service failures cause long delays to millions of UK passengers every Summer.
NATS is the second most expensive ATC provider in Europe and one of the worst performers. The CAA regulator, which failed so spectacularly in their regulation of London airports, can help to redeem itself by forcing NATS to deliver a decent service or recommend that they lose their monopoly right to abuse and overcharge UK passengers.
Speaking today David O’Brien, Ryanair’s Director of Flight & Ground Operations said:
“Ryanair trains over 400 Boeing 737-800 next generation pilots every year for deployment across Europe. Meanwhile the NATS monopoly fails to produce even the small number of Air Traffic Controllers required each year in the UK causing continuing delays to millions of passengers year after year.
“NATS first promised to eliminate staff shortages and improve services over five years ago, when they set about hoodwinking the CAA into relaxing their monopoly licence conditions. The same problems remain and millions of passengers must endure unnecessary ATC delays.
“It is time for the CAA to fix NATS or have them replaced”.
I think a few flights will be going the long way round again this afternoon!