UK airlines comment on NATS report into recent IT shutdown

September 18th, 2026

Commenting on the report published today by NATS on the recent IT shutdown, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, said:

“Once again, it is passengers who have suffered and airlines who have picked up the pieces – and the tab – of an ATC system failure, while NATS itself faces no real consequences.

“Passengers don’t need more hollow apologies or empty promises that lessons will be learned. They deserve commitment and proof that the system is being fixed and so the CAA’s review must mandate real investment in NATS’ resilience, so a single fault can never again descend into nationwide disruption. 

“Airlines UK is writing to NATS to demand immediate compensation for the costs incurred and a credible plan to improve resilience. The forthcoming Civil Aviation Bill must look closely at the question of redress to put an end to airlines being left yet again as the insurer of last resort. The Bill is the opportunity to examine a fairer solution so the costs of this disruption, again running into the tens of millions, don’t fully fall on airlines and their passengers.”