NATS

National Air Traffic Services handled 169,103 flights in November, an increase of 4.5 per cent on the same month last year.  

Despite rising traffic levels, service delivery has shown a significant improvement with the average delay, per flight, attributable to NATS, falling to just nine seconds in November 2004, compared to 23 seconds in November 2003. In the week ending 21 November, the average delay, per flight, attributable to NATS, fell to a record low of just six seconds, the lowest figure recorded since December 2001.

All five of NATS’ en-route units, London Area Control at Swanwick, London Terminal Control at West Drayton, Manchester Area Control and the Scottish Area Control Centre and Oceanic Area Control at Prestwick, reported healthy increases in traffic in November 2004, with Manchester recording the largest growth of over nine per cent.

NATS handled its two millionth movement of the year on Sunday 28 November, 17 days earlier than in 2003.

Overall, flights handled by NATS in 2004 - up to the end of November - increased by 4.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2003. The only market to show a decline in traffic last month was the transatlantic overflight sector, down 1.7 per cent. However this sector grew by 3.3 per cent in January to November 2004 compared to the same period in 2003.