UK Plans Biggest Airspace Redesign in 70 Years by Late 2025

The United Kingdom is moving forward with the most extensive redesign of its airspace in over 70 years, driven by rising air traffic and increasing congestion, especially over London. The UK Department for Transport (DfT) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) jointly announced the creation of the UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS), a centralized body tasked with overseeing the redesign of national airspace infrastructure. The new agency is scheduled to be fully operational by the end of 2025.

Managed by NATS (En Route) plc (NERL), the UK’s primary air navigation service provider, UKADS will initially prioritize redesigning the London airspace cluster, the busiest and most complex in the country. According to the official consultation released on June 2, 2025, “UKADS will provide a unified approach to deliver quicker, quieter, and cleaner flights.”

Currently, UK airspace accommodates 2.47 million flights annually, a sharp increase from 200,000 in the 1950s. This figure could rise to 3.3 million by 2040, and without modernization, delays could affect one in five flights, warns the DfT. The urgency of this overhaul was highlighted by a fatal collision near Washington, DC, which reignited concerns about congested urban airspaces globally.

“The existing airspace structure, unchanged since the 1950s, is no longer fit for purpose. Without modernization, delays and disruptions will increase,” said Aviation Minister Mike Kane in Parliament.

The current framework relies on airports and air navigation providers to independently propose airspace changes. However, the CAA has flagged significant challenges, including coordination issues and inconsistent submission quality, especially in London. UKADS will address these hurdles by centralizing the design process, while safety validation and implementation will remain with existing entities.

“This initiative will not alter who manages or initiates airspace changes. Airports and service providers, who best understand local needs, will retain their roles,” clarified the CAA.

To fund UKADS and its associated Airspace Design Support Fund, the government will introduce an Airspace Design Charge, primarily targeting commercial airlines. The fund will also allow eligible airport sponsors outside UKADS’s initial scope to reclaim modernization costs. “This approach ensures equitable support across the UK,” noted Minister Kane.

Regulatory updates are expected by September 2025. The DfT and CAA will consult on changes to the regulatory framework, including environmental assessments and the airspace change process. Two statutory instruments under the Transport Act 2000 will grant NERL authority to operate UKADS.