Ryanair confirms 1,000 flights cancelled as 'collapse' is blamed

Ryanair said it cancelled more than 1,000 flights in September, citing a partly “collapse” in Britain’s air traffic control system. The Irish airline linked the disruption to two separate ATC problems within a fortnight, as well as ATC strikes in Belgium and widespread European travel disruptions from volcanic ash clouds tied to Mount Etna eruptions. The carrier added that its latest incident came from a “connectivity issue” at its Prestwick centre in Scotland, distinct from an ATC software fault on September 8 that triggered wider flight chaos. The airline has called for Nats chief Martin Rolfe to resign, and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander plans meetings with Nats chairman Sir Warren East.