NATS

A preliminary investigation into the Aug. 28 incident by UK air navigation service provider NATS had traced the problem to a flight plan processing sub-system.

The CAA said its final decision sets the price control for NATS’ en route services in line with the provisional decision published in July 2023.

Thirty percent of NATS control tower staff were unavailable on Sept. 25 for a variety of medical reasons, including COVID-19, Gatwick Airport said.

Listen in as editors discuss the initial findings of a NATS report into the “one-in-15 million” event that caused UK air travel chaos.

A preliminary NATS investigation into the Aug. 28 meltdown has traced the problem to a flight plan processing sub-system.

"I fear we will see a continuing failure to improve the reliability, cost efficiency, and environmental performance of air traffic control," IATA's Willie Walsh said.

NATS said that although air traffic flow restrictions have been imposed, UK airspace is not closed.

UK air navigation service provider NATS plans to establish a new back-up air traffic control tower for London’s Heathrow airport.

Flight frequencies on many routes continue to be significantly below pre-COVID-19 levels.

Airlines will be able to choose their own direct routes through parts of Scottish airspace, due to a project led by air traffic controllers at NATS Prestwick Centre.