Plans to fast-track the remodelling of the UK’s flight paths could lead to quicker flights and fewer delays for passengers, the government says.
Ministers are set to announce the creation of the UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) later which will re-design the routes planes must take over UK airspace – many of which were decided around 70 years ago.
The initial shake-up will focus on modernising the complex airspace in and around London. However, any changes are not expected to come into effect for some years.
Cagne, a community aviation and environment group for Kent, Surrey, and Sussex, has warned the plans could mean new flight paths over houses that are not currently affected.
Ministers say the plans could allow planes to climb quicker during take off and descend more smoothly.
The plans are also aiming at helping reduce aviation’s climate change impacts and pave the way for new technologies like flying taxis.
“Modernising our airspace is also one of the simplest ways to help reduce pollution from flying and will set the industry up for a long-term, sustainable future,” said the Aviation Minister, Mike Kane.
The changes would allow the largest re-design of UK airspace since it was first formed in the 1950s, at which time there were only around 200,000 flights a year.
Last year there were about 2.7 million flights in UK airspace.
The government says UKADS will be fully operational by the end of this year.
Tim Alderslade, the head of trade body Airlines UK, said the changes to UK airspace were “long overdue”.
“We look forward to working with ministers and all parts of UK aviation to complete a once in a generation infrastructure programme as quickly as possible and ideally by the end of the decade,” he added.
Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2 called the announcement “excellent news” and called for “swift action”.
“We have been calling for the modernisation of airspace for years, as it has been proven to be a key driver in achieving CO2 reductions,” he said.
Finlay Asher, aerospace engineer and member of pressure group Safe Landing, said: “This transformation must prioritise environmental impacts and community well-being.
“Using these changes to simply increase the number of polluting flights would send emissions soaring in the wrong direction.”
