More efficient air traffic control procedures by Whiteley-based NATS has saved 800,000 tonnes of CO2 since 2008, equating to a £160m cut in airline fuel bills.
Air traffic control at Swanwick
NATS, which has an air traffic control centre in Swanwick as well as its corporate hjeadquarters in Whiteley, has released a five year retrospective report on its environment programme.
The report highlights the initiatives the company has introduced to cut airline fuel costs and minimise CO2 emissions.
Since 2008 when NATS became the first air traffic control service in the world to set targets to support the sustainable development of aviation, it has led the way in optimising airspace and aircraft performance.
Ian Jopson, Head of Environment and Community Affairs at NATS, said: “We have made great progress over the past five years, but as we celebrate these successes we must also look to the future.
NATS head office at Whiteley
“Our work towards delivering the next generation of air traffic management infrastructure, tools and operating concepts will provide a step change in our environmental performance, but this work needs investment and against a backdrop of economic pressures we will need to innovate to continue delivering.”
As well as changes in the skies, over the past seven years NATS has introduced a number of sustainability measures on the ground too.
Since 2008 NATS’ energy consumption has fallen 29 per cent, with water usage also dropping by 45 per cent.