Paxman. Nobody has any problems with SLAs or changes to how we do things. NATS staff didn't get to be one of the best ATC services in the world by standing still or ignoring customer needs.
The big difference as recently shown in the Public Accounts Committee investigation is that this Government took over £700 million from the sale of NATS. By devious collaboration with the Government the airlines purchased NATS and only paid £50 million and the rest became NATS debts on start up of the new company. NATS paid to have itself privatised !!!! With that debt and a downturn in revenue NATS is sinking fast.
You can argue till the cows come home what was right or wrong and what should be done in the future but the plain fact is NATS needs cash immediately. If Ryanair's actions cause further delay to that cash injection more harm will be done to the ATC operation of the UK and Eastern Atlantic. That harm will take many many years to turn round.
I get the impression some people here know the score and there is a desperate warning to all the aviation community and Government that something needs doing now before it is too late. Even holding our Government to account at the next election would be a nice idea but too late to solve the crisis.