Air traffic union warns of turbulence over NATS price controls

Library

Air traffic union warns of turbulence over NATS price controls

Prospect, the union representing the 3,500 air traffic controllers and systems specialists employed by National Air Traffic Services (NATS), has warned of turbulence within NATS.



The union is anticipating a difficult future following the announcement by the Civil Aviation Authority that it plans to further reduce NATS’ operating expenditure limit over the next five years.

Under the CAA proposals NATS will be required to make additional savings of £86 million over and above planned cost savings it had been expecting. NATS now has to find £132 million in spending cuts over the next five years.

Commenting on the plans, Prospect’s national secretary David Luxton, said: "NATS will not be able to absorb spending cuts of this magnitude without damaging industrial relations and service delivery.

"Air traffic controllers and engineers have delivered significant improvements in NATS’ performance over the past two years, including working additional attendances to cope with increased traffic. Many staff still face considerable upheaval and uncertainty over the next few years as NATS implements its two-centre strategy.

"They will be in no mood to tolerate crude costing-cutting measures as their reward for an unprecedented improvement in operational efficiency. We will be stating this message loud and clear to NATS and the CAA Economic Regulator."

Prospect will be meeting Paul Barron, chief executive of NATS, to discuss the CAA proposals on Thursday, 26 May.