LLA and NATS publish post-implementation review of AD6 airspace change

London Luton Airport (LLA) has published the Post-Implementation Review (PIR) of the AD6 airspace change, co-sponsored with NATS, introduced in February 2022 to improve safety and reduce delays for arriving aircraft. 

The PIR concludes that the AD6 airspace change has met its intended objective to maintain a high standard of safety by reducing complexity, air traffic controller (ATC) workload and delays for LLA arrivals, and consequential delays to Stansted Airport arrivals.

The AD6 airspace change comprises a new holding area near the A1-A14 junction approximately 9,000ft over Grafham Water, and changed flightpaths for 70% of the airport’s arrivals. There are minimal changes from existing flight paths below 5,000ft, but a greater dispersion of flights above 5,000ft. The holding stack is only used during the busiest periods or if aircraft are unable to land immediately.

The change was implemented to simplify and modernise the arrival routes and holds previously shared by LLA and Stansted Airport. Separating the arrival routes and establishing dedicated holds for each airport has ensured continued safety and helped reduce delays for passengers at both airports. It also reduced the possibility of a delay at one airport resulting in a delay for the other due to aircraft queuing in the same hold.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) initially approved the airspace change in November 2021 following an extensive public consultation that ran from October 2020 to February 2021. The CAA will now evaluate whether the anticipated impacts and benefits in the original proposal and published decision are as expected.

For more details on this airspace change, please visit the CAA portal.

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About London Luton Airport
London Luton Airport (LLA) is one of the UK’s busiest airports, carrying over 16.2 million passengers in 2023. The airport is operated by a consortium, of which the majority shareholder is AENA, the world’s largest airport operator, and InfraBridge, a leading infrastructure investment manager. Airlines include easyJet, Wizz Air, Ryanair, Tui, FlyOne, Sun Express and El Al.

The Luton Airport Express is a new dedicated train service that allows passengers to travel from central London to the LLA terminal in around 30 minutes. The Luton Airport Express runs from St Pancras International to Luton Airport Parkway station and connects seamlessly with the DART, an electrically powered people mover that connects to the airport terminal in less than four minutes.

In 2024, LLA was named European Airport of the Year (10-25 million passengers) by ACI EUROPE. This followed being named as the UK’s best airport by readers of the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller magazine in 2023. 

Last year, LLA also became only the third major UK airport to achieve Level 4 of the globally recognised Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme, demonstrating that it is ‘transforming its operations to achieve carbon reductions in line with global climate goals’. With a maximum score of 100 and a five-star rating, LLA has been ranked as a sector leader for two consecutive years in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) benchmark of sustainability governance management and performance of major infrastructure assets worldwide.

To learn about the progress London Luton Airport is making across its sustainability programme please click here. Further information on London Luton Airport can be found here: https://www.london-luton.co.uk/

Contact Details:

Contact Details:
London Luton Airport Press Office
T: 01582 395333
E: pressoffice@ltn.aero

London Luton Airport – PR agency:
E: LLA@tinmancomms.com

URL: https://mediahub.london-luton.co.uk/news/11072024/review-of-airspace-change-is-published