The UK’s leading air traffic services provider, National Air Traffic Services (NATS), successfully managed a surge in air travel during December, handling 181,015 flights. This represented a modest 1.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
This growth was primarily driven by a 4.1% rise in non-transatlantic flights, with popular European destinations like Spain, France, and Germany topping the list.
According to data from Eurocontrol, NATS played a crucial role in European air travel, managing over 24% of the continent’s traffic. Notably, the impact of NATS-related delays on flights was minimal, with only 0.4% experiencing delays attributed to the provider.
“Despite facing challenging weather conditions throughout the month, our team demonstrated exceptional dedication and ensured that the vast majority of flights proceeded as planned,” stated Kathryn Leahy, Chief Operations Officer at NATS.
“We are particularly proud of the low average delay per affected flight, which stood at a mere 11.3 minutes.”

Performance Highlights
- NATS successfully handled a 1.5% increase in flights in December 2024 compared to the previous year.
- Non-transatlantic flights experienced the most significant growth, driven by the allure of European Christmas markets.
- NATS managed over 24% of European air traffic with minimal delays, demonstrating its operational efficiency and commitment to safety.
- Despite challenging weather conditions, the average delay per affected flight remained low at 11.3 minutes.

Factors Contributing to December’s Air Travel Surge
The festive season undoubtedly played a significant role in the increase in air travel. The allure of European Christmas markets likely attracted a considerable number of travellers. This contributed to the heightened demand for flights to popular destinations like Spain, France, and Germany.
NATS’ ability to manage a significant volume of air traffic while maintaining a high level of safety and minimizing delays is a heartening sign.
This achievement is particularly noteworthy considering the potential disruptions caused by adverse weather conditions.

NATS: Putting the Past Behind
NATS has faced criticism in the past, particularly following a major IT outage in August 2023. This incident caused widespread disruption to air travel, affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers and incurring significant costs for airlines.
The outage highlighted concerns about the resilience of NATS’ systems and the potential consequences of technological failures. Critics questioned the company’s preparedness for such events and the effectiveness of its contingency plans.
Following the incident, an independent review was conducted to investigate the root causes of the outage and recommend improvements to NATS’ operations and systems.
Looking Ahead
As air travel demand continues to grow, NATS will play an increasingly vital role in ensuring the safe and efficient movement of aircraft across European skies.
The company’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence will be crucial in meeting the challenges of a dynamic and evolving aviation landscape.

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