UK’s millionth flight this year is earliest since the pandemic, says NATS

The strong return of air traffic post-pandemic is continuing, according to statistics from Hampshire-based air traffic service provider NATS.

On 8 June 2024, the UK saw its one millionth flight this year – six days earlier than in 2023. The earliest this milestone has ever been reached was on the last day of May in 2019.

NATS handled 1,176,622 flights in the first half of the year to the end of June, an increase of 5.1 per cent on the same period last year.

In June itself, the company handled a total of 231,519 flights, an increase of 3.5 per cent on June 2023.

Highest year-on-year growth was in non-transatlantic arrivals and departures, which increased by four per cent.

The busiest routes in the run up to peak summer have been those between the UK and Spain, France and Italy, whereas domestic UK routes showed least growth.

NATS handled 24 per cent of European traffic in June.

Kathryn Leahy, chief operations officer, said: “We had the busiest day of the year so far on 14 June, when we handled more than 8,300 flights.

“That was busier than any day last year, so as we head to the summer peak, we already know how much the traffic is building.

“In July we have the Farnborough Airshow, the Royal International Air Tattoo and the school holidays, which are already well underway for some.

“That all adds up to a very busy month.”