Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • NATS and AiQ Consulting win Best Solution Provider at AOA Awards

Aerospace

NATS and AiQ Consulting win Best Solution Provider at AOA Awards

NATS is celebrating after their project was named a winner at the Airport Operators Association (AOA) Awards.

Above: NATS and AiQ Consulting accept their award.  (left to right) Simon Calder, AiQ Managing Director Derek Allen, NATS Portfolio Manager Gary Conroy and AOA Chair Baroness Ruby McGregor- Smith.
Courtesy NATS

Together with AiQ Consulting, NATS’ project won the “Best Solution Provider” award which recognises businesses in the aviation and airport sectors that have delivered new, innovative solutions to meet a defined business need.

Advertisement
ODU RT

The prize acknowledged the delivery of an end-to-end airport capacity assessment at Bristol Airport – the ninth busiest airport in the UK – focusing on pinch points between kerbside and airside.
NATS and AiQ Consulting worked to deliver a completely integrated assessment of the entire airport operation and developed a range of immediate suggested actions and longer-term investments to secure efficiency of the operation.

With exciting and ambitious plans for the future backed by significant infrastructural investment, Bristol Airport now has a validated actionable roadmap that enables them to achieve ongoing improvements to the customer experience.

Gary Franklin, NATS’ Customer Solutions and Delivery Director, said: “By bringing together experts from air traffic control, airport operations, stand planning, baggage management and passenger flow, NATS and AiQ were able to help Bristol Airport understand how to improve capacity constraints across the entire airport, by helping to identify and prioritise investment needs.

“Finding innovative ways to solve specific operational and technical challenges is one of NATS’ key capabilities so we are delighted that our project with AiQ has won this prestigious award.”

Advertisement
Tritax 300x250

AiQ’s Managing Director, Derek Allen, said: “We are very proud to have won this award which was based on exceeding our client’s expectations. Together with NATS we provided an end-to-end capacity assessment from kerbside to airside at Bristol Airport, which took a holistic, whole-journey approach.

“The project demonstrated our deep operations experience and our modelling capabilities that enabled the airport to understand the customer challenges facing them and make the right decisions for the future. From big picture virtual reality modelling to highly detailed insights, the award was a recognition of the talents in the AiQ and NATS team.”

The Airport Operators Association (AOA) is a national trade association which represents the interests of UK airports in areas such as security, economic development, operations and safety and environmental sustainability.

 
 

Advertisement
General Atomics LB
Britten-Norman BN2T-4S Islander approved by TCAA

Aerospace

Britten-Norman BN2T-4S Islander approved by TCAA

2 December 2025

UK aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman has received Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) type certification for the BN2T-4S Islander, the Rolls-Royce Model 250–powered turboprop variant of the company’s iconic utility aircraft.

CAA confirms summer 2025 busiest ever for UK aviation

Aerospace

CAA confirms summer 2025 busiest ever for UK aviation

2 December 2025

The Civil Aviation Authority’s latest aviation trends report confirms that 2025 saw the busiest summer ever for UK aviation.

UK Airlines minimise A320 maintenance disruption

Aerospace

UK Airlines minimise A320 maintenance disruption

2 December 2025

The UK Civil Aviation Authority provided an update on precautionary maintenance action required for some of the global Airbus A320 fleet, following the publication of an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) on 28th November calling for immediate precautionary action on a number of in-service A320 Family aircraft.

Anotec achieves JOSCAR accreditation

Aerospace Defence

Anotec achieves JOSCAR accreditation

2 December 2025

Advanced surface coating specialist Anotec has strengthened its compliance across aerospace and defence, by achieving JOSCAR accreditation.

Advertisement
Leonardo animated rectangle
IATA reports accelerating passenger and cargo demand growth in October

Aerospace

IATA reports accelerating passenger and cargo demand growth in October

1 December 2025

Data for October 2025 released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), shows global passenger demand growth accelerated to 6.6%, whilst cargo demand set a new record, rising by 4.1%.

QinetiQ Powerboat Challenge 2025 tests students skills

Aerospace Events

QinetiQ Powerboat Challenge 2025 tests students skills

28 November 2025

QinetiQ’s annual Schools Powerboat Challenge has put students’ engineering and piloting skills to the test.

Advertisement
ODU RT