NATS

NATS, the UK’s leading air traffic management provider, has handled a record 7,864 flights in a single day.  The record breaking figure was achieved on Friday 1 September and was reached as airlines affected by the summer security alert returned to pre-August growth levels.  NATS handled 217,930 flights in September, an increase of 3.3 per cent over the same month last year. 

NATS’ en-route London Terminal Control Centre at West Drayton handled its millionth flight of the year on 22 September, nine days earlier than last year.  For the month as a whole, the Centre handled 122,210 flights while London Area Control Centre at Swanwick, Hampshire handled 178,823 flights, Manchester Area Control 55,715 flights, the Scottish Area Control Centre at Prestwick 54,327 flights and the Oceanic Area Control, also located at Prestwick, 36,160 flights.

Non-transatlantic overflights continued to show strong growth in September, up 16.7 per cent with flights between Ireland and Italy, Germany, France and Spain showing the greatest increases.  Transatlantic overflights increased by 5.6 per cent on the previous month. The domestic market showed a 0.2 per cent increase in September. 

Traffic at the 15 airports where NATS provides air traffic services grew by 2.5 per cent in September.  The demand for business jets was reflected in Farnborough, Luton and London City showing increases of 27.3 per cent, 12.1 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.