UK air traffic movements in September down 0.3% on 2009
NATS, the UK’s leading air traffic services provider, today released figures showing a 0.3% decline in air traffic movements in UK airspace in September 2010, compared with September 2009. The decrease is the smallest year on year percentage decline since the global aviation downturn began in July 2008.
Air traffic in Europe was impacted by French industrial action which occurred from September 6 through 8 and from September 14 through 24, an air traffic control strike in Belgium from the 28th through 29th, and a general strike in Spain on the 29th.
There was positive growth in the Transatlantic Arrivals/Departures market of 4.0% and Transatlantic Overflights of 6.3%. Traffic at NATS airports decreased by 1.3% this month as compared to September 2009, with the exceptions of Farnborough (9.6%), Heathrow (5.0%), Southampton (3.6%), Aberdeen (0.8%) and Bristol (0.1%), which all posted positive growth.
| Sep 2010 | Sep 2009 | % gr | 2010 to Date | 2009 to Date | % gr | |
| UK FLIGHTS | 198,514 | 199,143 | -0.3% | 1,610,484 | 1,694,853 | -5.0% |
| CENTRES | ||||||
| Swanwick | 171,995 | 172,972 | -0.6% | 1,392,787 | 1,464,935 | -4.9% |
| Prestwick | 81,852 | 82,962 | -1.3% | 658,311 | 711,000 | -7.4% |
| London Area Control | 164,498 | 164,556 | 0.0% | 1,328,519 | 1,394,019 | -4.7% |
| London Terminal Control | 111,670 | 112,830 | -1.0% | 918,430 | 963,622 | -4.7% |
| Manchester Area Control Centre | 43,380 | 45,087 | -3.8% | 347,023 | 378,619 | -8.3% |
| Scottish Area Control Centre | 49,109 | 49,063 | 0.1% | 399,347 | 427,710 | -6.6% |
| Oceanic Area Control Centre (Shanwick) | 36,205 | 33,953 | 6.6% | 292,391 | 300,578 | -2.7% |
| MARKET | ||||||
| Transatlantic Arrivals/Departures | 10,985 | 10,559 | 4.0% | 90,913 | 94,668 | -4.0% |
| Transatlantic Overflights | 17,501 | 16,463 | 6.3% | 140,378 | 144,506 | -2.9% |
| Other Arrivals/Departures | 123,670 | 124,757 | -0.9% | 991,850 | 1,038,894 | -4.5% |
| Other Overflights | 8,839 | 9,292 | -4.9% | 75,067 | 83,803 | -10.4% |
| Domestic | 37,080 | 37,751 | -1.8% | 307,720 | 329,535 | -6.6% |