Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • UK’s air traffic growth continues into September

Aerospace

UK’s air traffic growth continues into September

UK air traffic provider NATS safely handled 230,974 flights in September, an increase of 2.7% on the same month last year.

Image courtesy NATS
 
Non-transatlantic arrivals and departures had most growth, with 3.8% more flights compared to September 2023. The busiest routes were to Spain, France and Italy.
 
NATS handled nearly 24% of European traffic in September, according to Eurocontrol and was accountable for just 1.7% of delay, whilst 98% of flights received no NATS-attributable delay (the average delay per delayed flight was 15 minutes).

Advertisement
DSEI 2025

 
Over the six months April to September, NATS handled 1,374,498 flights, an increase of 4.1% on last year. July was the busiest month of the year so far and included the busiest day since 2019 (8,238 flights on Monday 15th July).
 
NATS has consistently managed almost 24% of European traffic this summer, accounting for 1.2% of the total delay, with the average delay per delayed flight less than 15 minutes.
 
Advertisement
DSEI 2025

For comparison, over the same six-month period in 2019, the busiest year on record, NATS handled 1,429,909 flights.  This also equated to 24% of European traffic. NATS accounted for 2.1% of delay, 99% of flights received no NATS attributable delay and the average delay per delayed flight was 26 minutes.
 
Kathryn Leahy, Chief Operations Officer, said: “The airlines’ summer schedules run from April to October, so we are close to the end of a busy summer season for the industry. There have been well-reported challenges across the entire European network, including ongoing airspace capacity constraints and some very disruptive weather. We have seen traffic peak to near pre-pandemic levels – and exceed those levels in some areas – and our controllers have been at their professional best in providing a safe and efficient service.  
 
“We have held industry-wide calls over the summer to support airline and airport customers during times of significant disruption (the Crowdstrike issue for example), as well as our daily ‘lookahead’ operational calls to share information we have for the following day, to help airline and airport operators in planning their schedules.”   

Advertisement
Babcock LB
Lars Wagner to become CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft

Aerospace

Lars Wagner to become CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft

10 July 2025

Lars Wagner, currently Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTU Aero Engines AG, based in Munich, will join the Airbus Executive Committee and succeed Christian Scherer as CEO of the Commercial Aircraft business, effective 1st January 2026.

Avelia to transform into multiple SAF supplier solution

Aerospace

Avelia to transform into multiple SAF supplier solution

10 July 2025

One of the largest suppliers of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), Shell Aviation, along with Accenture and American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT), has announced today that Avelia is in the process of evolving into an industry solution with independent data hosting and a multisupplier model helping users access the greenhouse gas (GHG) ...

AI firms collaborate with Heathrow to enhance operations

Aerospace

AI firms collaborate with Heathrow to enhance operations

9 July 2025

Heathrow is harnessing advanced technology to make aircraft ground operations faster, smarter and more seamless across 116 gates at Terminals Two, Three and Five, as part of a strategic collaboration with IAG and Assaia.

Viasat test boosts business jet in-flight connectivity

Aerospace

Viasat test boosts business jet in-flight connectivity

8 July 2025

Viasat today announced a milestone for its JetXP business aviation in-flight broadband service, following recent test flights that successfully connected the Global Aero Terminal (GAT) 5510 to a ViaSat-3 satellite for the first time.

Advertisement
Teledyne
ST Engineering Antycip’s Merlin MP521 advances student innovation

Aerospace

ST Engineering Antycip’s Merlin MP521 advances student innovation

8 July 2025

Khalifa University of Science and Technology today announced major student and faculty achievements resulting from the use of ST Engineering Antycip’s Merlin MP521 Flight Simulator, which provides hands-on experience in aircraft design and performance evaluation, directly contributing to a growing body of student-led research and academic ...

Birmingham Airport sees busiest ever June

Aerospace

Birmingham Airport sees busiest ever June

8 July 2025

Birmingham Airport (BHX) has had its busiest June ever, with a record 1,360,957 passengers travelling through the airport last month.

Advertisement
Teledyne