UK air traffic control handles record number of flights for October

Airline Industry Information, Nov 17, 2004

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The increase in routes offered by low-cost carriers to and from the UK has led to the UK's National Air Traffic Services (Nats) handling a record number of flights in October 2004.

Nats handled 193,715 flights throughout October 2004, a new high for the month and a 5% increase on the figures for October 2003. Despite the increase in flights delays were down from 0.54 minutes in October 2003 to just 0.29 minutes in October 2004.

Control centres at Manchester and Prestwick saw the biggest increase in flights, with Manchester reporting a 5.6% increase and the oceanic centre at Prestwick reporting a 5.3% increase.

Transatlantic flights were also up, with a 6% increase over October 2003. A spokesperson for Nats said that UK flights are showing strong year-on-year growth thanks mainly to low-cost carriers, reports The Scotsman.

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