UK air traffic numbers up in 2019
In November, NATS handled 181,523 flights in UK airspace, 2.3% less air traffic when compared to November 2018, although traffic for the year has increased by 0.9% overall.
Above:
NATS, Prestwick.
Courtesy NATS
Both of NATS’ air traffic control (ATC) centres handled slightly less traffic than in November last year and there was no growth at any of the 14 airports where NATS provides the ATC service. There was growth in some areas of the operation compared to the same month last year, with transatlantic overflights up by 3.5%.
NATS handled just over 23% of all the traffic in Europe in November with 99.9% of the 181,523 flights experiencing no delay from NATS. Year to date, the average NATS attributable air traffic control delay per flight is 8.8 seconds.
Juliet Kennedy, NATS Operations Director, said: “We are still seeing the effects of the Thomas Cook collapse, which has contributed to the decline in air traffic in October and November.
"We do expect recovery in the coming months and we’re looking forward to a busy Christmas period and doing our best to get everyone where they need to be for the festive period.”
