NATS

NATS is the air traffic control provider for UK airspace, headquartered at Whiteley near Fareham in Hampshire. It manages all upper airspace over the UK, provides services at UK airports and also works for airports, airlines, other air navigation service providers and governments abroad. The company describes itself as the UK's main provider of air traffic control services; that is its own claim.

What NATS does

• En route air traffic control for UK airspace and the North Atlantic
• Air traffic services at UK airports, 13 according to its main about page
• Aeronautical information, including AIP, NOTAMs and digital datasets
• Services for drone and eVTOL operations and integrated traffic management
• Air traffic services, consultancy and training for customers in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America

Traffic and people

NATS says it handles over 2.5 million flights and around 300 million passengers a year in UK airspace. It reports around 4,900 employees, including 1,800 air traffic controllers, 700 air traffic service assistants and 1,000 engineers. It is recruiting trainee controllers, according to its website banner.

Company facts

• Head office: 4000 Parkway, Whiteley, Fareham, Hampshire PO15 7FL
• Operates under a public private partnership, which the company marked as 25 years in 2026
• Publishes annual reports, a safety report and the Aviation Index on its site