SubscribeNational Air Traffic Services (NATS), has had its contract renewed by Birmingham International Airport (BIA) to continue to provide the airport's air traffic control service. The contract forms a key part of NATS' expanding airports business.
The contract, which runs for nine years, includes both Tower and Approach air traffic control services and their associated engineering support functions and maintenance.
Brandon Chapman, Director of Airport Services, said, “We are delighted to retain the contract at this fast developing airport. This confirms NATS’ position as the UK’s number one air traffic management service provider”.
He added, “Birmingham is a key part of our expanding airports business. It demonstrates once again that NATS, with its unrivalled expertise, can provide a first class service to our customers, handling record numbers of flights with fewer delays. We look forward to working with BIA to support them in their future development plans and are committed to delivering a first class service with safety at its heart.”
Richard Heard, BIA Managing Director said, “We welcome the opportunity to continue our successful working relationship with NATS. Efficient and effective air traffic control is one of the keys to our continuing success. As the Airport gears up to cope with future demand, its support will become increasingly important, helping us to provide an efficient and safe operating environment for our passengers.”
More than 50 staff are based at in the control tower at Birmingham International Airport, including 34 air traffic controllers who handled over 149,000 flights in 2004/05.
- National Air Traffic Services handled almost 2.2 million flights in 2004, covering the UK and eastern North Atlantic and carrying more than 180 million passengers safely through some of the busiest and most complex airspace in the world.
- NATS operates en route services from air traffic control centres at Swanwick, West Drayton, Manchester and Prestwick.It also handles traffic at 14 of the UK’s major airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, London Luton, London City, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Belfast International, Southampton and Farnborough. In each case, NATS operates under contract to the airport operator, won on a competitive basis.
- NATS has just won its first international airport contract, providing air traffic control and support services at Gibraltar Airport.
- Birmingham International Airport (BIA) has just recorded its busiest month ever, with some 1,023,697 travelling through the Airport in July, an increase of 7.8% over 2004. This is the first time that the Airport has broken through the million passenger milestone in a July. The signs are good for even greater record levels in the peak month of August.
Furthermore, on Friday 29th July the Airport recorded its busiest ever day, with 38,190 passengers travelling through in 24hrs. - BIA is the fifth largest airport in the UK and the second largest outside London.
