Belfast City Airport awards air traffic control contract to NATS

Belfast City Airport – George Best Belfast City Airport (BCA) – has chosen NATS as its new air traffic services provider.

For the first time in its history, Belfast City Airport awarded its air traffic control services to an external company. As of the 01 July 2016, NATS took over air traffic control at the airport beating bids from Air Navigation Services and the Swedish air traffic control provider, LFV.

NATS, which manages air traffic services at 13 other UK airports, will now take responsibility for the safety and efficiency of the airport’s 42,000 annual arrivals and departures, having provided engineering services to the airport since 2007.

Mark Beattie, BCA Operations Director, said: “We were delighted with the level of interest from top tier Air Navigation Service Providers resulting in an open and highly competitive tender process.  We are confident that NATS will provide an air traffic service that delivers high levels of customer service, stakeholder engagement and will ensure alignment with relevant best practice.”

Winning NATS bid includes the introduction of electronic flight progress strips at Belfast City Airport

The NATS offering included a number of service enhancements such as the introduction of electronic flight progress strips

Mike Stoller, NATS Airports Director, added: “Our performance in UK air traffic management, our ability to deliver innovation, and really understanding what the Belfast City Airport needed were key reasons for our successful bid. We’ve built innovation in to our service proposal to enhance the quality and resilience of the operation I would like to welcome the tower team into the NATS family.”