In May 2024, it recorded a 5.9% increase compared to the same month in 2023, as it managed a total of 227,552 flights.
UK air traffic services provider, NATS, announced that in May 2024 air traffic in the region reached pre-pandemic levels, with a total of 227,552 flights managed, representing a 5.9% increase compared to May 2023.
This growth was seen on routes between the UK, Spain, France and Italy, with an increase of more than 6% compared to the previous year. Transatlantic flights showed the highest year-on-year growth of 8%.
According to figures from the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol), NATS handled 24.5% of European traffic in May, with only 1.6% of the total delays attributed to NATS.
In addition, 98.6% of UK flights experienced no delays due to NATS, with an average delay per delayed flight of 11.9 minutes.
“We always knew that May would be a busy month and the holiday week at the end of the month required a lot of planning and preparation, especially with a large number of business jets arriving for the Champions League Final at Wembley. Nats Chief Operating Officer Catherine Leahy said: “I am very pleased that we have met the challenge with very high levels of punctuality, which gives us confidence heading into the summer.”
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