Snow and ice snow can have a serious impact on air traffic operations in a way few people really appreciate

Last month I was at the International Airport Summit in Berlin, where one theme cut through almost every discussion, panel and product demo: predictability, not performance is now what airports care most about.

At NATS, being a responsible business isn’t just a commitment or policy; it is a core part of who we are and how we work every day. Our latest Responsible Business Report makes this clear and outlines the significant progress we’ve made across the organisation over the past financial year (2024/25).

This year we have made significant strides towards developing NATS OpenAir as the UK-wide digital data infrastructure to enable the safe and efficient integration of crewed and uncrewed aircraft in shared airspace. The next step will see us working with Airways New Zealand.

Colleagues from both CGI and NATS rolled up their sleeves to support FoodCycle, a national charity tackling food waste, food poverty, and loneliness. Together, they delivered two evenings of community engagement that went far beyond simply cooking.

Last week, our Young Professionals’ Network had the opportunity to represent NATS at the Dubai Airshow.From meeting inspiring peers from the Dubai Air Navigation Service Youth Council to presenting to senior leaders, the week offered a fantastic chance for us as a network to strengthen global connections and highlight the power of collaboration.

Scotland’s lower airspace is based on a design built for aircraft and navigation technology that belong to another era. Demand has grown, aircraft have changed and the invisible infrastructure that keeps flights safely moving needs a comprehensive upgrade to keep pace.

Earlier this year, we rolled out the Air Traffic Management Portal, ATM-P for short, a cutting-edge platform designed to enhance collaboration between the Flow Management Team at NATS, who ensure airspace sector capacity is safely balanced with demand.

At this week’s Airlines 2025 event, I joined colleagues from across the sector to discuss capacity and resilience in UK aviation. It highlighted a simple truth: growth alone will not suffice for passengers — resilience must grow alongside capacity. That’s the standard the industry is aiming for, and it’s how the UK will remain competitive.

Over the past three weeks, over 60 dedicated members of 78 Squadron have taken part in this year’s fundraising efforts for the Royal British Legion (RBL) Poppy Appeal.