Ryanair passengers were delayed due to staff shortages at a UK airport today.
Those flying from London Gatwick were forced to wait for two hours.
The airline shared an apology as it called for the CEO of National Air Traffic Services (NATS) to resign.
A Ryanair post on X read: "Ryanair apologises to passengers for 2hr delays at Gatwick airport due to NATS staff shortages."
Customers were delayed for hours today
PA
Holidaymakers posted about the delays they faced on social media today.
One said: "@Ryanair flight delayed by 1 hr 45 mins due to lack of ground crew at Dublin airport by your own admission.
"Left sitting on aircraft since 6.30 poor service FR112 to Gatwick."
Another added: "@Ryanair 4 hours delay coming, 1 hour delay going back."
This follows more disruptions Ryanair passengers faced at the weekend as Gatwick's airport air traffic control system collapsed.
Ryanair claimed the "failures" on Saturday and today were caused by NATS.
A Ryanair spokesperson said: “It is unacceptable that passengers continue to face disruption due to the mismanagement of NATS by Martin Wolfe.
"Only three months ago, their system failure caused long delays, diversions and cancellations and now passengers are facing over 2hr delays this morning (Dec 14) due to NATS staff shortages.
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The airline shared an apology
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"These repeated UK NATS system failures are unique to the UK and are not repeated in any other European ATC service.
"Our passengers want a competent UK ATC service and Martin Rolfe has repeatedly shown he can’t deliver it. He should go and let someone competent run UK ATC."
Ryanair offers cheap flights from the UK to destinations across the world.
It has shared its summer schedule, including flights to a new destination for the first time.
A NATS spokesperson told GB News: "Air traffic control restrictions are in place at Gatwick this morning due to an unavoidable staff shortage affecting our air traffic control team at the airport.
"We are working closely with the airport and airlines to minimise disruption, and we apologise sincerely for the delay and inconvenience this is causing to airlines and their passengers.”
