Faster, quieter and greener journeys by air are one step closer thanks to a further £3.7m investment in redesigning the UK’s ‘motorways in the sky’, the Government has confirmed.
The funding, which will support a programme to modernise the UK’s airspace for the first time since the 1950s, will help airports develop new, more efficient flight routes that make use of modern technology, such as Performance Based Navigation, which will enable aircraft to fly more precise routes.
The £3.7m in new funding brings the total funding to £9.2m, after an initial round of investment in March 2021, and is being provided on an exceptional basis while the sector recovers from the impacts of the pandemic.
"By redesigning our skies, we are creating a modern UK airspace that is fit for future generations and makes journeys quicker, quieter and greener,” said UK Aviation Minister Robert Courts. “This £3.7m in funding will support the industry in upgrading our airspace, allowing the aviation sector to continue to grow while we build back greener, cut carbon emissions and deliver on our ambitious plans to reach ‘Jet Zero.’”
Mark Swan, Head of the Airspace Change Organising Group (ACOG), said: “The announcement of today’s funding enables the industry to move on confidently to the next stage of modernising the UK’s airspace.
“This programme is a critical national infrastructure project for the UK and will deliver benefits across the country – from increasing efficiencies in the routes aircraft fly to supporting the industry to deliver its net zero targets.
“With airspace not updated since the 1950s, it remains a programme that is long overdue.
“Today’s additional funding maintains momentum behind the programme following its remobilisation and we look forward to our continued engagement with the Government, CAA and airspace change sponsors in delivering airspace modernisation for the country.”
The airport sponsors of the programme will resume responsibility for funding future stages, as the sector continues its recovery.