UK airspace needs modernising to '˜avoid delays up to 20 minutes'

UK airspace is in desperate need of modernisation says the National Air Traffic Control Service. Picture: Monty Rakusen

Nats chief executive Martin Rolfe described existing flight paths – designed in the 1960s and 1970s – as “a network of B roads” which need urgent restructuring to make them more efficient.

The number of flights operating in UK airspace is expected to rise from two million last year to 3.1 million by 2030.

Mr Rolfe warned that under the current system either all flights will be delayed or expanded capacity, such as from a third runway at Heathrow Airport, will not be utilised.

He said: “Either delays will soar from effectively no delay or very little delay from an air traffic perspective right now up to millions of minutes a year, which probably means every flight being delayed by ten, 15, 20 minutes.

“Or we end up in a position of any additional capacity that we build in the country – no matter where it is – not being usable and not being of any benefit because we don’t have the infrastructure in the airspace to support it.”

Research by Nats found that delays could rise from around 90,000 minutes a year today to four million by 2030 if nothing is done.

A coalition of airlines, airports and air traffic control have formed a group named The Sky’s The Limit, which is now calling on the government and other politicians to support airspace modernisation.

The Department for Transport will be launching a consultation next year into the process of managing the UK’s airspace. Mr Rolfe said: “Modernising how our skies are structured is vital, but we are already behind schedule and it is critical that the industry and government now work together to deliver change.”

He admitted that changing flights paths is “a contentious topic” as it means some communities have more planes flying above them.

Nats says modernisation of airspace would allow greater use of smooth, continuous descents and climbs, meaning aircraft would spend less time at low levels where they create more noise and are less efficient.

This would also reduce the need for conventional orbital holding – known as stacking – which would keep planes higher for longer.

According to Nats these changes could help the aviation industry deliver its commitment of a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.

Virgin Atlantic chief executive Craig Kreeger said: “We’re calling on the government to recognise the overwhelming positive case for change in terms of the wider economic value and the benefits for noise and emissions.”