NATS, the UK's major provider of air traffic services based in Whiteley, has reached a mammoth milestone.

The two millionth flight of 2024 arrived on Tuesday, October 15, nearly two weeks earlier than last year, indicating air traffic levels are nearing pre-pandemic figures.

NATS safely handled 222,567 flights over October, a 0.8 per cent increase on October 2023.

The top market segment growth was in non-transatlantic arrivals and departures, with 3.2 per cent more flights than in October 2023.

The busiest routes were to Spain, Italy, and Turkey.

Chief operations officer Kathryn Leahy said: "The two millionth flight is a bellwether of the industry’s bounce back from the pandemic.

"In 2022 it came in December, last year it was the end of October and this year it’s just 12 days later than in 2019.

"All the signs are that next year will be busier still."