National Air Traffic Services (NATS), the UK’s leading provider of air traffic management services, has been awarded a multi-million pound contract by Bristol International Airport to provide the airport’s air traffic control service. The Bristol contract is NATS’ 16 th competitively won airport contract and forms a key part of its expanding airports business.
The contract, which runs for 20 years, with the potential to extend, includes both Aerodrome (tower) and Approach air traffic control services and their associated engineering support functions and maintenance. Forty one air traffic control, engineering and support staff from Bristol International who currently provide the airport service, will move over to NATS on 1 November 2005.
The Bristol International contract is the third major recent win for NATS’ airport business, which has secured its first international air traffic control contract at Gibraltar Airport and a nine- year contract to continue to provide air traffic management services at Birmingham Airport.
Lawrence Hoskins, Commercial Director, NATS said: “This is great news for NATS and clearly demonstrates our position as the UK’s leading provider of air traffic management services. We are determined to expand our airports business and winning the contract at this fast-developing airport has been a key objective.”
Andrew Skipp, Managing Director of Bristol International Airport, said: “We are extremely pleased to have appointed the UK’s largest air traffic management service provider. We are always looking at ways to enhance the services we provide and NATS can maintain the high levels of safety we currently deliver whilst providing additional support from their national organisation. NATS have a proven track record and are influential at both a national and international level, which will be of great value in supporting Bristol International Airport’s continued growth.”
Brandon Chapman, Director of Airport Services, NATS said, “We are delighted to win this important contract. We have a proven track record in delivering safe and complex airport air traffic control services and look forward to strengthening our relationship with Bristol International. We are committed to delivering a first class service with safety at its heart. ”
Bristol International Airport is one of the UK’s fastest growing regional airports and handled 7,674 flights in July 2005, an increase of over 7 per cent on the previous year.
NATS currently provides airport air traffic control services at 14 UK major airports including Heathrow, the world’s busiest for international traffic and Gatwick, the world’s busiest single-runway airport.
31 October 2005
