Changes to the air traffic services licence held by NATS came into effect on 6 May 2026, enabling the organisation to begin delivering the new UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) under a regulatory framework established by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
The revised licence gives NATS new responsibilities for coordinating and designing airspace changes across the UK, with an initial focus on the London Terminal Control Area. The region covers some of the country’s busiest and most complex controlled airspace and supports operations for several major airports in south east England.
UKADS is intended to support airspace change proposals involving multiple airports and wider network operations, including future developments linked to runway expansion projects. The service is also expected to help progress proposals that have previously faced delays due to the complexity of coordinating changes across different parts of the aviation system.
Alongside work in London and the south east, NATS will also provide coordination support for interdependent airspace change proposals in other parts of the UK where the service is not directly managing the design process.
Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister, Keir Mather, said:Modernising UK airspace is essential to ensure we can continue to safely support growing demand, including ensuring flight paths in and out of Heathrow are optimised for a third runway by 2035.
The new UK Airspace Design Service represents a major change in how modernisation is being delivered and will provide the coordination and expertise needed to redesign our skies, improve flight efficiency and support sustainable growth across the sector.
The updated framework is designed to provide a more coordinated approach to airspace modernisation, while maintaining existing safety requirements. Guidance on strategic objectives and processes is expected to be published later this summer by the Department for Transport and the regulator.
The changes form part of wider efforts to update UK airspace management as airports, airlines and regulators prepare for future growth in passenger demand and infrastructure development.
Martin RolfeNATS CEO, Martin Rolfe, said:The licence change is an important milestone for airspace modernisation and we look forward to beginning delivery of the UK Airspace Design Service. The UK has some of the busiest and most complex airspace in the world, and modernising its design is essential to building a more efficient and resilient aviation network for the future. There is still important detail to work through with the Department for Transport and the CAA, but this licence change provides a clear basis for that work to move forward.
