NATS and Heathrow continue partnership

LONDON - NATS and Heathrow have had a long and successful relationship, working together to operate the world’s busiest and most efficient dual runway airport before the impact of the Covid pandemic. The partnership is extended now.

In 2019 Heathrow was the seventh busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger numbers, regularly seeing over 1,300 daily air traffic movements. One year later and that figure had fallen to just 134 as countries closed their borders to control the spread of the virus.

In the face of such a dramatic fall, NATS turned its operational experience towards working with the airport to understand when to close and reopen its stands, terminals, and runways. "That analysis helped keep costs as low as possible while ensuring the airport remained open to the vital medical, cargo and vaccine flights that needed it," NATS said as Heathrow renewed its contract for five years.

Kathryn Leahy, Heathrow’s Director of Operations, said: "We’re looking forward to continuing this partnership as Heathrow recovers from the most challenging period in the airport’s history," Heathrow Director of Operations Kathryn Leahy said. "NATS was quick to adapt when two of the world’s busiest runways were brought to a near standstill by the pandemic, and we’re excited to work with their teams and take advantage of the latest technologies, to ensure our airport is even more efficient and resilient as we modernise our airspace."