Airlines want UK government to hold NATS stake

: Latest News; Thursday, 10 February 2011

A consortium of British airlines is lobbying the government to keep its 49 per cent stake in the country's air-traffic control system.

The government is considering reducing its NATS stake as part of measures to pay off Britain's public debt.

But the Airline Group, a consortium of airlines that owns 42 per cent of NATS, said a reduced government stake would weaken the UK's influence over European Union air traffic policy.

In a letter to UK Transport minister Philip Hammond, NATS said reducing its 'weight' in Europe would free France, Germany and Spain to decide the future of the air traffic control industry, and would be highly damaging.

The government will decide whether to sell by March 23, ahead of the next UK budget.

Airlines want UK government to hold NATS stake

Latest News

Thursday, 10 February 2011

A consortium of British airlines is lobbying the government to keep its 49 per cent stake in the country's air-traffic control system.

The government is considering reducing its NATS stake as part of measures to pay off Britain's public debt.

But the Airline Group, a consortium of airlines that owns 42 per cent of NATS, said a reduced government stake would weaken the UK's influence over European Union air traffic policy.

The government will decide whether to sell by March 23, ahead of the next UK budget.