Martin Rolfe, the chief executive of NATS (National Air Traffic Services), is facing mounting calls to justify his £1.5 million pay package after a major technical failure grounded thousands of flights across the UK this week.
The outage, which originated at the Swanwick air traffic control centre on Tuesday 8 September 2026, crippled the flight data processing system. More than 2,000 flights were cancelled across Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded at airports in Britain and abroad.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated that she does not believe the technical issue was “unavoidable,” adding pressure on the NATS leadership to account for the third major large-scale failure in three years.
Impact at Gatwick and West Sussex
The disruption has been felt acutely across West Sussex. Gatwick Airport, the primary international hub for Bognor Regis and the surrounding area, was among the worst-affected sites in the country. By early Wednesday morning, Gatwick had recorded at least 33 flight cancellations, with knock-on delays continuing throughout the day as airlines struggled to get aircraft and crews back into position.
While flight schedules are expected to return to a state of normality by Thursday 10 September, the backlog of displaced passengers remains a significant challenge for the airport’s operations.
Pay package and performance backlash
Public and political scrutiny has shifted toward Mr Rolfe’s remuneration. His £1.5 million pay package for the last financial year has become a focal point for critics. Previous major disruptions occurred in August 2023 and July 2025.
NATS is a public-private partnership, 49% state-owned, with a consortium of airlines known as The Airline Group holding a 42% stake. The government has ruled out a cyberattack as the cause of this week’s failure, focusing instead on internal systems at the Swanwick site.
Passenger rights and compensation
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has classified the outage as an “extraordinary circumstance.” This designation is significant for affected travellers because it means airlines are likely exempt from paying standard cash compensation for the delays or cancellations.
However, travellers retain specific rights under the “duty of care” rules. Regardless of the cause of the delay, airlines are legally required to provide:
- Reasonable meals and refreshments.
- Two phone calls or emails.
- Overnight accommodation and transport to and from the hotel if a delay lasts overnight.
Passengers who choose not to fly following a significant delay may be entitled to a refund for the unused part of their ticket. The CAA has launched an independent review into the incident, which is expected to publish its findings in six months. Travellers planning to use Gatwick or other UK airports this week are advised to check their flight status directly with their airline before leaving home.
