Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • NATS secures 10 year contract at Cardiff Airport

Aerospace

NATS secures 10 year contract at Cardiff Airport

NATS has secured a ten year contract to provide air traffic and engineering services and expertise for Cardiff Airport.

Above: (left to right) Paul Jones, NATS Group Customer Account Manager, NATS Cardiff GM Daryl Rowlands, Huw Lewis, Finance Director Cardiff Airport, CEO NATS Martin Rolfe, CEO Cardiff Airport Deb Barber, NATS Commercial Director Guy Adams and Ceri Mashlan, Director of Operations Cardiff Airport.
Courtesy NATS

Advertisement
ODU RT

The contract, which was signed on 9 July, includes aerodrome, approach and engineering services, as well as the addition of services for MOD St Athan for the first time.

The contract award follows significant passenger growth at Wales’ national airport since it came under public ownership in 2013; during which time NATS has also played a vital operational role in the successful delivery of major events including the NATO Wales Summit, Rugby World Cup and 2018 Champions League Final.


Courtesy Cardiff Airport

Deb Barber, CEO at Cardiff Airport, added: “After a robust tender process, we were very impressed by the NATS bid. Not only are they a reputable, trusted supplier of air traffic services at many UK airports but they also stand out for demonstrating technological innovation, operational excellence and impressive engineering capabilities.

Advertisement
ODU RT

“We look forward to developing further our partnership with NATS over the next ten years and, on behalf of Cardiff Airport’s team, I’d like to congratulate NATS on their success.”

Martin Rolfe, NATS CEO, said: “Cardiff Airport has gone from strength to strength in recent years, achieving over 60% passenger growth.  We are delighted to be adding MoD St Athan to the NATS family and look forward to continuing to provide the Welsh capital city airport with an outstanding service, as we have done since the 1960s.”

Guy Adams, NATS’ Commercial Director, also commented: “The Cardiff contract attracted a number of bidders, so we are delighted to have reached such a positive outcome.  Being recognised as a trusted supplier by the airport is a great achievement so I’d like to thank the Cardiff team for working so hard.”


 

Advertisement
General Atomics LB
IFS launches IFS Zero

Aerospace Defence

IFS launches IFS Zero

10 June 2026

IFS has launched IFS Zero, an agentic AI Emissions Operating System designed for asset-intensive industries, such as aerospace and defence, where organisations face pressure to improve emissions reporting and supply chain transparency, with Scope 3 compliance now a contractual requirement.

Smith Detection

Aerospace Security

Smith Detection's SDX 10080 SCT receives UK DfT approval

10 June 2026

Smiths Detection announced today that its SDX 10080 SCT has received UK Department for Transport (DfT) approval for deployment across UK airports and cargo operators for hold baggage and air cargo screening.

Aston University secures £3.9m to boost aerospace and cybersecurity skills

Aerospace Security

Aston University secures £3.9m to boost aerospace and cybersecurity skills

10 June 2026

Aston University has secured almost £4 million in new funding to improve the UK’s aerospace engineering and cybersecurity skills.

Marshall Aerospace completes initial flight model for Horizon Aircraft’s Cavorite X7

Aerospace

Marshall Aerospace completes initial flight model for Horizon Aircraft’s Cavorite X7

10 June 2026

Marshall Aerospace has successfully completed a flight dynamics and control model to support Horizon Aircraft’s Cavorite X7, a revolutionary dual-use hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft currently in prototype development.

Advertisement
ODU RT
NATS invests in carbon removals with CUR8

Aerospace

NATS invests in carbon removals with CUR8

9 June 2026

NATS has committed £500k to carbon removals through carbon removals intelligence provider CUR8, contributing to an initiative led by the UK Sustainable Aviation coalition, to stimulate the carbon removals market as part of a £2 million Advance Market Signal.

HutanBio partners with Wakud on scalable SAF feedstocks

Aerospace

HutanBio partners with Wakud on scalable SAF feedstocks

9 June 2026

Cambridge biotechnology company HutanBio, which is developing algae-derived oils for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), has signed its first commercial offtake Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Oman's Wakud International, as the aviation industry searches for new feedstock sources capable of supporting future SAF demand.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner