The UK Government plans to hand over executive control of National Air Traffic Services (NATS) on 1 June to the Airline Group, completing the conversion of the organisation to a public/private partnership.
The handover to the seven-strong airline group, which includes bmi British Midland, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic will take place in tandem with Richard Everett replacing Colin Chisholm as NATS' chief executive. Chisholm becomes chief operating officer. Current chairman Sir Roy McNulty is standing down.
The handover is being kept low key due to the imminent UK general election, particularly as the government's decision to sell a 46% stake in NATS was controversial. Neither the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions nor NATS will officially acknowledge the handover. NATS sources say it has been told "to get quietly on with the job".
Everett comes to NATS from airports group BAA, where he was strategy and compliance director. The handover will have no effect on NATS primary task or the way it is carried out, says the group, adding that change in the way the system is managed will be gradual.
Source: Flight International
