Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2026 to Question 15461 on Air Routes, when the UK Airspace Design Service is expected to become fully operational; and for how long it is expected to take to get to around 40 staff.

The UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) provided by NATS En Route Ltd (NERL) is operational and has begun work to design airspace for the complex London region. The final process to establish the UKADS was the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) decision on modifications to the NERL licence, which was published in March 2026, and took effect on 6 May 2026. Staffing arrangements are a matter for NATS En Route Ltd.