“We need reform of how Nats is regulated to ensure that all its services are robust and resilient so that UK travellers can be confident their flights will take off,” wrote Lundgren in a column for The Mail on Sunday (1 October). 

“We want to see a wide-ranging review into how the National Air Traffic Services (Nats) is structured, run and regulated so the systems and processes can be modernised."

Lundgren said staff shortages had caused 40 days of delays and cancellations since May, hitting hundreds of thousands of travellers.

As the airport’s biggest operator, easyJet is also the most affected, Lundgren added. “Our customers are rightly angry – and I share their immense frustration."

Lundgren’s comments echo those of Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, who has called for Nats chief executive Martin Rolfe to step down multiple times over the poor performance.

“It is the most basic requirement to hire and train adequate staff numbers including standby coverage,” said a Ryanair spokesperson last week following Gatwick’s decision to cap flights until 1 October. 

“Nats has been a shambles for years, causing unnecessary disruptions at UK airports including Bristol, Edinburgh and Manchester, and now Gatwick airport.”

Talking about last week’s cap, Lundgren said the issue was not Covid – as stated by Gatwick airport – but low staff levels.

“They declared that Covid sickness is the cause, when clearly it is structural understaffing,” he said. “Like other airlines whose passengers have been caught up in this, we have had enough.”