NATS reappointed at Gatwick following six-year hiatus

By Sam Pither

13 October 2022

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NATS, the air traffic control services provider, has been reappointed to Gatwick after six years away from the airport.

This means that, for the first time since 2016, air traffic service at all five major London airports is being provided by the Fareham-based company.

Overnight between 8-9 October, controllers and engineers transferred over to NATS from Gatwick’s previous provider.

Stewart Wingate, Gatwick Airport Chief Executive, said: “NATS comes with a world-beating reputation for providing air traffic control service.

“We’re looking forward to working closely together to build resilience in the years ahead, which of course will benefit our passengers, airlines, employees, and the region’s wider economy.

“I would like to pass on my gratitude to Air Navigation Solutions Limited for supplying air traffic control services at the airport over the past six years.”

On an average day, atwitch will see up to 55 aircraft movements per-hour on its single runway, making it a particularly challenging airport. NATS is already training and recruiting new and experienced air traffic controllers, who will join Gatwick in the coming months.

Longer-term, NATS is also working with Gatwick to assess whether it Intelligent Approach arrival spacing tool could feasibly be installed at the airport. If so, it would be the first time the tool has been deployed at a single runway, ‘mixed-mode’ airport.

Alongside Searidge Technologies, NATS intends to evaluate the possibility of using new digital air traffic management tools at the airport to further enhance operational performance.

Martin Rolfe, NATS Chief Executive Officer, said: “For Gatwick to invite us back speaks to the faith they have in NATS to both deliver the best possible service and to support the airport’s longer term strategic objectives.

“Our first priority is to enhance the resilience of the air traffic operation so we can deliver the kind of service the airport, its airlines and their passengers will need for the future.”

Featured image: Gatwick Airport Chief Executive, Stewart Wingate with Martin Rolfe, NATS Chief Executive. Credit: NATS.

By Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset.

A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise.

Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.