It's more than likely low gas pressure, the aircon gas also contains oil to keep the pump lubricated so once the gas level/pressure drops below a certain level a sensor in the line shuts the system down, if you want to check the pump runs ok you can pull out the relay (in the engine bay fuse box) and just use a piece of wire to link out the contacts in the relay base, this will operate the compressor clutch and run the pump (you can see the AC pulley if you look in front of the drivers side front wheel), if you do this test don't run it for long, if the gas is low so is the lubrication and sustained running would damage the compressor