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

UK aviation gender pay gap hits 53% as women miss out on highest-paid roles
Annual WiAA Charter Dinner, November 2025, in Glasgow
UK aviation gender pay gap hits 53% as women miss out on highest-paid roles
A new industry report finds aviation has one of the UK's widest gender pay gaps, with women still underrepresented in the technical, operational and leadership roles that drive career progression.
Aerospace

8 Oct 2026

Southend Airport appoints Sharmeen Divan as Interim CEO
Sharmeen Divan
Southend Airport appoints Sharmeen Divan as Interim CEO
As London Southend progresses in the next phase of its growth, the UK’s fastest growing airport has appointed Sharmeen Divan as its Interim CEO.
Aerospace

7 Oct 2026

Open Cosmos plans 192-satellite ConnectedCosmos LEO constellation by 2030
Open Cosmos will build a core constellation of 192 low Earth orbit satellites by 2030
Open Cosmos plans 192-satellite ConnectedCosmos LEO constellation by 2030
Open Cosmos will build a core network of 192 ConnectedCosmos satellites by 2030, as it expands its secure low Earth orbit (LEO) communications network following a €300 million funding round.
72% of UK manufacturers pursuing defence opportunities, report finds
A robotic arm of the car production plant is working as UK automotive suppliers ask for help to secure defence contracts.
72% of UK manufacturers pursuing defence opportunities, report finds
UK manufacturers are increasingly exploring defence opportunities as automotive pressures intensify, while AI adoption across the industry continues to accelerate.
Defence

8 Oct 2026

How a Royal Navy officer prevented HMS Prince of Wales colliding with a ferry
HMS Prince of Wales replenishment
How a Royal Navy officer prevented HMS Prince of Wales colliding with a ferry
Lieutenant David Hardiman has received a prestigious award after his quick thinking helped avert a potentially catastrophic collision between HMS Prince of Wales and passenger ferry GNV Sirio in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Defence

8 Oct 2026

BAE Systems awarded Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II EW contract
F-35
BAE Systems awarded Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II EW contract
A long-term contributor to the F-35 programme, BAE Systems is continuing to help drive its advance with a contract from Lockheed Martin to retrofit and integrate high-performance electronic warfare (EW) systems for the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter.
Defence Member News

8 Oct 2026

Excelerate Technology to build UK CNI robotic security solution
Satellite in Earth orbit
Excelerate Technology to build UK CNI robotic security solution
In a project co-funded by the European Space Agency Business Applications and Space Solutions (ESA BASS) and supported by the UK Space Agency, Excelerate Technology will build and demonstrate how space-enabled assets can provide innovative safety and security solutions, including protection of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) at a site in the UK.
World Space Week: How British technology will help ESA return to the Moon
ESA Argonaut
World Space Week: How British technology will help ESA return to the Moon
As Europe prepares to return to the Moon, British-developed LEIA LiDAR technology will help ESA's Argonaut lander autonomously identify safe touchdown zones on the lunar surface.
Space

5 Oct 2026

Airbus delivers first next-generation satellites for OneWeb constellation
OneWeb satellites in transport container at Airbus
Airbus delivers first next-generation satellites for OneWeb constellation
A new generation of OneWeb spacecraft is heading for launch, helping Eutelsat sustain and expand its low Earth orbit connectivity network for governments, businesses and institutions worldwide.
Member News Space

5 Oct 2026

London Fire Brigade Cadets gain practical skills at firefighting weekend
Capita Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh, firefighting weekend.
London Fire Brigade Cadets gain practical skills at firefighting weekend
Continuing its longstanding support for London Fire Brigade’s Fire Cadets, Securitas UK has given 16 young people practical training at its ninth annual firefighting weekend, held at the Capita Fire Service College in Moreton-in-Marsh.
Member News Security

7 Oct 2026

Cyacomb launches counter-terrorism platform to identify terrorist content on digital devices
Digital security.
Cyacomb launches counter-terrorism platform to identify terrorist content on digital devices
A new counter-terrorism capability developed by Edinburgh-based Cyacomb can help investigators rapidly identify known terrorist material on digital devices, as online radicalisation creates new challenges for law enforcement services.
Member News Security

7 Oct 2026

RAF Barnham future uncertain as police seek to retain training facility
RAF Barnham
RAF Barnham future uncertain as police seek to retain training facility
Norfolk and Suffolk Police are fighting to retain former RAF Barnham after the government marked the MoD-owned site to accommodate asylum seekers.
Defence Security

7 Oct 2026