Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy has called for urgent action after another technical problem at the UK’s air traffic control provider NATS caused flight disruption on September 21, 2026. Data shows UK airspace handles over 2.5 million flights annually, making infrastructure stability vital. You know, it is pretty frustrating for everyone involved.
The latest incident affected NATS’ Prestwick Centre in Scotland and resulted in air traffic restrictions being introduced while engineers investigated the problem. Flights were delayed across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. Several airports warned passengers about disruption. Let’s be real, delays ruin trips fast.
Heapy said airlines and passengers should not repeatedly have to deal with disruption caused by failures in critical national infrastructure. Statistics indicate that air traffic delays cost European carriers billions yearly. Oddly enough, these tech faults keep popping up.
What Did Steve Heapy Say?
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2, said the latest disruption came only days after NATS published a report into another major technical failure earlier in September. Aviation reports highlight that system reliability must improve.
He said the repeated incidents were unacceptable and called for action, accountability and proper resilience from NATS and the UK Government. Officials face mounting pressure now.
Heapy also said that customers work hard to look forward to their holidays and should not repeatedly face delays because the UK’s air traffic control systems cannot be relied upon.
Jet2 said it would continue working to look after affected customers and recover its operations, but Heapy argued that airlines and passengers should not be left to deal with the consequences of recurring infrastructure failures.
What Happened at NATS?
The latest problem occurred at the NATS Prestwick Centre on September 21. Industry data reveals that Prestwick manages vast airspace segments.
NATS said the issue was a connectivity problem affecting part of its systems network. Air traffic regulations were introduced to manage demand while engineers investigated the fault.
NATS later confirmed that the issue had been fixed and that it was working with airports and airlines to remove the remaining restrictions. The organisation said the September 21 incident was separate from the earlier technical failure on September 8.
The disruption affected flights in several parts of the UK. Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast were among the airports reporting delays, while some disruption was also reported at London airports.
Why Is Steve Heapy Calling for Action?
The latest incident happened less than two weeks after a separate NATS technical failure caused widespread disruption on September 8.
That earlier failure affected more than 2,000 flights across UK aviation. Jet2 said it incurred significant costs while supporting customers and recovering its operations and has said it will seek compensation from NATS.
Heapy therefore used the latest disruption to renew calls for improvements to the resilience of the UK’s air traffic control infrastructure.
Jet2 is asking NATS and the Government to explain what immediate steps are being taken to reduce the possibility of further failures.
Jet2 Says It Will Send Another Bill to NATS
One of the strongest parts of Heapy’s latest statement concerned the financial impact on airlines. Financial reports suggest disruption costs airlines vast sums.
He said Jet2 was counting the cost of the latest disruption and would be sending another bill to NATS. It is a bold move by the airline boss.
The comments follow Jet2’s previous efforts to recover customers affected by the September 8 disruption.
The company said around 7,200 Jet2 customers required additional assistance and repatriation support at the peak of that earlier disruption. Jet2 arranged more than a dozen additional flights and used spare aircraft capacity and ground transportation to help customers return home.
What Does the Latest Statement Mean for Jet2 Customers?
For passengers, the immediate issue is potential delays, cancellations and changes to travel plans when NATS restrictions are introduced.
Jet2 said its teams would continue doing what they could to support customers and recover its operations following the latest incident.
Passengers travelling during periods of disruption should check their flight status directly with their airline before travelling to the airport.
The Civil Aviation Authority also said passengers affected by the September 21 incident were unlikely to be entitled to compensation for delays or cancellations directly caused by the incident, although airlines still have obligations to look after passengers in qualifying circumstances.
How Is This Different From the September 8 Failure?
The September 21 incident and the September 8 failure were separate technical problems.
The September 8 incident involved a software defect and caused widespread disruption across UK aviation, affecting more than 2,000 flights.
The September 21 problem was described by NATS as a connectivity issue involving part of its systems network at the Prestwick Centre. NATS said it was unrelated to the earlier failure.
That distinction is important because the latest disruption should not be described as the same technical failure happening again.
What Happens Next?
Jet2 is calling on NATS and the Government to provide clear information about the measures being taken to improve system resilience.
Heapy’s latest comments also put the financial consequences of repeated disruptions in focus. Jet2 says airlines and their customers should not repeatedly be left to absorb the operational and financial effects of failures outside their control.
NATS has confirmed that the September 21 technical problem was fixed, although some knock-on disruption could continue while normal operations resumed.
Key Facts
| Detail | Latest information |
|---|---|
| Statement date | September 21, 2026 |
| Jet2 CEO | Steve Heapy |
| Issue | NATS technical/connectivity problem |
| Location | NATS Prestwick Centre |
| Impact | Flight delays and air traffic restrictions |
| Earlier September failure | September 8, 2026 |
| Earlier disruption | More than 2,000 flights affected |
| Jet2 customers needing assistance | Around 7,200 |
| Jet2 position | Calling for urgent action and greater resilience |
| Compensation claim | Jet2 says it will seek costs from NATS |
Final Thoughts
Steve Heapy’s latest Jet2 statement came after a second NATS-related disruption in September 2026. Air traffic statistics prove how fragile networks can be.
His message focused on the need for stronger resilience in the UK’s air traffic control infrastructure. Jet2 said it would continue supporting affected customers, while also seeking to recover costs associated with the disruption.
The latest NATS problem was separate from the September 8 technical failure, but its timing has renewed questions from airlines about the reliability and resilience of the UK’s air traffic control systems.
Sources & References
- Jet2: Jet2 demands urgent action after yet another NATS failure
- The Guardian: Airlines urge action after UK flights delayed and cancelled again
- ITV News: More flights disrupted after second UK air traffic control issue
- FlightGlobal: Second NATS failure in two weeks leaves airlines calling for action
- Travel Weekly: Airline chiefs demand action over repeated air traffic control failures
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