Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
26 July 2017 09:06
UK airspace is becoming extremely overcrowded, say experts
Experts have warned UK airspace is becoming 'exceptionally overcrowded' ahead of what was expected to be the busiest-ever day for air traffic controllers.
The summer season gets under way on Friday with some 8,800 planes to be handled by air traffic controllers in a single day. Before taking a flight people should arrange travel insurance.
Approaching the limit
Experts say the whole summer season will see the number of flights handled rise by 40,000 on the same period in 2016.
The chief executive of the National Air Traffic Service, Martin Rolfe, warned that the UK is "approaching the limit of what the skies can handle."
He explained: "The routes we currently have in place are becoming exceptionally crowded, and on the busiest days we sometimes have to reroute aircraft to make sure we can get everybody to their destinations on time."
Year of planning
Airports have been planning for the summer season over the past months, looking at many different issues, Mr Rolfe told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"We start more than a year in advance planning where the aircraft are going to be, looking at the schedules, working with the airlines and working with air traffic controllers to make sure we have a plan we can execute safely."
16 October 2018
Patients with brain tumours lose out on almost £15,000 per year, a new report has revealed.
[more...]
13 October 2018
Chris Grayling has given his "categorial assurance" to Parliament that a no-deal Brexit will not ground flights in and out of the UK, despite recent warnings from experts that this remains a possibility.
12 October 2018
The rising cost of fuel could force more airlines out of business, the boss of easyJet has warned.
11 October 2018
The image of the boozy backpacker might be a thing of the past as a new study suggests more and more youngsters are shunning alcohol completely.
10 October 2018
The NHS says just one in 10 drinks sold in English hospitals will be sugar-sweetened, as part of its bid to curb rising obesity levels.
09 October 2018
More than 260,000 diabetes patients were put at risk of lasting harm or even death during hospital stays last year due to medication errors, a new report has revealed.
06 October 2018
NHS patients with a specific type of lymphoma will soon be able to access a "game-changing" new treatment, health officials have revealed.
05 October 2018
People living with diabetes are being warned they might be "unwittingly" storing their insulin incorrectly.
04 October 2018
The world's first commercial jet part-powered by a new form of biofuel touches down in London on Wednesday (3rd October).
03 October 2018
New 'hotel-style' carriages that were due to be rolled out for the Caledonian Sleeper have been delayed until next year.
02 October 2018
Budapest has been revealed as the cheapest destination for UK holidaymakers looking for a cultural break, according to a new report.
29 September 2018
Holidaymakers heading off by train will soon be able to check their blood pressure at the station, as part of a new scheme aimed at boosting the number of people getting checked.