The UK government has announced legislation to establish the UK Airspace Design Service, enabling the largest redesign of British airspace since the 1950s.
The changes laid in Parliament will create more direct and efficient flight routes, reduce delays and support airport expansion. UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) will be fully operational by the end of 2025 and will be run by NATS.
Current UK airspace was designed when there were around 200,000 flights per year compared to 2.7 million in 2024. The modernisation will open up capacity, supporting growth and jobs in aviation and tourism sectors while reducing emissions per flight.
Redesigned flight paths will allow aircraft to climb quicker during take off and descend more smoothly, reducing noise and air pollution for residents along flight routes. The service will initially focus on redesigning London's airspace.
UKADS could eventually design routes supporting new technologies such as drones and flying taxis. The Department for Transport will work with the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure swift delivery and independent oversight of the rollout.
"Redesigned skyways will turbocharge growth in the aviation industry, not least by boosting airport expansion plans and supporting job creation," said Mike Kane, aviation minister. "Modernising our airspace is also one of the simplest ways to help reduce pollution from flying."
One modernisation measure in southwest England has been estimated to save 12,000 tonnes of fuel annually. Global forecasts show a near doubling of passengers and cargo in the next 20 years.
Rob Bishton, chief executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: "Modernising our airspace infrastructure is key to enabling the growth of the sector and helping mitigate its impacts."
Martin Rolfe, CEO of NATS, said: "The UK's airspace network is one of the busiest and most complex in the world. We handle a quarter of Europe's traffic despite having only 11% of its airspace. However, we have to modernise airspace if we are to maintain this level of performance as traffic grows towards 3 million flights per year."
Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, said: "The UK's airspace is a critical piece of our national infrastructure and these proposals will help modernise it, bringing forward new technologies and routing methods that will make it more efficient, cleaner, and provide passengers with a better experience."
Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, described airspace modernisation as "long overdue" and said the changes would provide "tangible reforms, from a reduction in delays, improved resilience and lower carbon emissions."
Expansion at Heathrow alone is expected to create over 100,000 jobs and strengthen the UK's status as a global aviation hub.