General Atomics

NATS registers increase in flights handled in December

NATS has revealed that it safely handled 181,015 flights in December, an increase of 1.5% on December 2023.

28799
Caption on image

Image courtesy NATS

Non-transatlantic arrivals and departures showed most growth, with 4.1% more flights than a year ago. Spain, France and Germany were the busiest routes.
 
According to Eurocontrol, NATS handled more than 24% of Europe’s traffic in December and was accountable for just 0.4% of delay. A total of 99.8% of flights received no NATS-attributable delay, whilst the average delay per delayed flight was 11.3 minutes.
 
Kathryn Leahy, Chief Operations Officer, said: “The draw of Europe’s Christmas markets may have been behind last month’s growth routes, but December is always busy and we do our very best to make sure that everyone’s travel goes according to plan.  

“In the face of some very challenging weather conditions, our team pulled out all the stops and I am very pleased that we were able to keep the average delay so low.  It was a good performance.”

Related

The Drone Age: What does the UK need to get right?
ADS Advance magazine - the drone age- is out today
The Drone Age: What does the UK need to get right?
Leading experts examine where UK drone capability is advancing, where gaps remain and what industry and government need to fix next.
Isembard opens London’s largest factory since WWII
Isembard's global HQ and factory in Southwark
Isembard opens London’s largest factory since WWII
By opening the capital's largest factory since the Second World War in Southwark, Isembard is establishing a global head office that will also serve as a working precision factory that will enhance sovereign capability and deliver solutions for aerospace, defence and robotics customers, worldwide.
Aerospace Defence Security

14 Sep 2026

Marshall Aerospace sale agreed: Why the Aurelius deal matters for UK defence
MRO at Marshall Aerospace
Marshall Aerospace sale agreed: Why the Aurelius deal matters for UK defence
The German investment group is acquiring a strategically important British military aviation business with decades of C-130 expertise.
Aerospace Defence

14 Sep 2026

The Drone Age: What does the UK need to get right?
ADS Advance magazine - the drone age- is out today
The Drone Age: What does the UK need to get right?
Leading experts examine where UK drone capability is advancing, where gaps remain and what industry and government need to fix next.
Isembard opens London’s largest factory since WWII
Isembard's global HQ and factory in Southwark
Isembard opens London’s largest factory since WWII
By opening the capital's largest factory since the Second World War in Southwark, Isembard is establishing a global head office that will also serve as a working precision factory that will enhance sovereign capability and deliver solutions for aerospace, defence and robotics customers, worldwide.
Aerospace Defence Security

14 Sep 2026

RAF Airbus A400M takes off from grass runway in Poland amid Russian drone threat
RAF BRize Norton with Airbus A400M landing
RAF Airbus A400M takes off from grass runway in Poland amid Russian drone threat
The Royal Air Force has practised operating an Airbus A400M from a grass runway in Poland as NATO strengthens dispersed operations on its eastern flank.
Defence

14 Sep 2026

The Drone Age: What does the UK need to get right?
ADS Advance magazine - the drone age- is out today
The Drone Age: What does the UK need to get right?
Leading experts examine where UK drone capability is advancing, where gaps remain and what industry and government need to fix next.
Skyrora completes hot-fire testing of advanced LEO engine
Skyrora engine test
Skyrora completes hot-fire testing of advanced LEO engine
Skyrora has conducted hot fire testing of its LEO engine at its Midlothian facility in Loanhead, demonstrating the potential of stronger, lightweight parts for future propulsion systems.
Member News Space

11 Sep 2026

UK spends nearly £30m on SpaceX satellite services as military shifts to Starshield
Starlink already offers unparalleled end-to-end user data encryption. Starshield uses additional high-assurance cryptographic capability to host classified payloads and process data securely, meeting the most demanding government requirements.
UK spends nearly £30m on SpaceX satellite services as military shifts to Starshield
The UK military operates around 1,000 SpaceX Starshield terminals after spending nearly £30m on Starshield and Starlink satellite communications.
Defence Space

11 Sep 2026

The Drone Age: What does the UK need to get right?
ADS Advance magazine - the drone age- is out today
The Drone Age: What does the UK need to get right?
Leading experts examine where UK drone capability is advancing, where gaps remain and what industry and government need to fix next.
Isembard opens London’s largest factory since WWII
Isembard's global HQ and factory in Southwark
Isembard opens London’s largest factory since WWII
By opening the capital's largest factory since the Second World War in Southwark, Isembard is establishing a global head office that will also serve as a working precision factory that will enhance sovereign capability and deliver solutions for aerospace, defence and robotics customers, worldwide.
Aerospace Defence Security

14 Sep 2026

DEA Group appoints Lee Madden as Delivery Director
DEA Group aircraft
DEA Group appoints Lee Madden as Delivery Director
As it marks 10 years of supporting border surveillance, maritime security, fisheries protection and counter-smuggling operations, DEA Group has appointed Lee Madden as Delivery Director.