April air traffic dip exaggerated by 2008’s early Easter effect
Figures released by NATS show that the number of flights in UK airspace decreased by just over 11 per cent in April compared to the same month last year.
The UK’s leading supplier of air traffic services managed 180,166 flights last month compared to 202,691 in April 2008. However, the gap was more pronounced because the Easter break fell in April this year compared to March in 2008. Leisure flights increase over holiday periods, whilst the number of business travellers goes down, resulting in a net reduction in flights.
The overall effect of the different dates for bank holidays year on year, has been to enhance the decrease in traffic in April.
All NATS centres, markets and airports recorded a decline last month. International traffic also continued its reduction except for increased flights to Greece (27.5 per cent) and Turkey (12.8 per cent).
| April
2009 |
April
2008 |
% gr | 2009 to Date | 2008 to Date | % gr | |
| UK FLIGHTS | 180,166 | 202,691 | -11.1% | 680,770 | 765,617 | -11.1% |
| CENTRES | ||||||
| London Area Control Centre (Swanwick) | 147,706 | 164,950 | -10.5% | 554,471 | 620,479 | -10.6% |
| London Terminal Control Centre | 102,836 | 115,584 | -11.0% | 394,051 | 440,231 | -10.5% |
| Manchester Area Control Centre | 39,960 | 47,741 | -16.3% | 150,716 | 180,330 | -16.4% |
| Scottish Area Control Centre | 45,583 | 52,906 | -13.8% | 174,163 | 200,283 | -13.0% |
| Oceanic Area Control Centre (Shanwick) | 32,461 | 34,775 | -6.7% | 120,848 | 129,757 | -6.9% |
| MARKET | ||||||
| Transatlantic Arrivals/Departures | 10,066 | 11,755 | -14.4% | 38,861 | 44,215 | -12.1% |
| Transatlantic Overflights | 15,253 | 16,436 | -7.2% | 56,986 | 61,658 | -7.6% |
| Other Arrivals/Departures | 109,229 | 121,348 | -10.0% | 409,187 | 459,721 | -11.0% |
| Other Overflights | 8,717 | 10,146 | -14.1% | 34,562 | 39,889 | -13.4% |
| Domestic | 35,876 | 42,674 | -15.9% | 139,362 | 158,894 | -12.3% |
Ends