Latest news about the UKADS

22 October 2024

• CAA and DfT press releases announcing the original UKADS consultation.

20 November 2024

• The DfT and CAA held a webinar to give an overview of the original consultation and answer any questions. Watch now: UK Airspace Design Service Consultation - Webinar.

17 March 2025

• Government announcement confirming the go-ahead for the UKADS and Support Fund.

2 June 2025

• DfT press release announcing how the CAA and DfT have responded to the UKADS consultation in autumn 2024, including that NERL will provide the UKADS, and that it is expected to be up and running by the end of 2025.

12 June 2025

• The CAA published:
  • CAP 3121 a consultation detailing our initial proposals for modifications to NERL’s air traffic services licence, and in support of that:
  • a financial model (CAP 3121A) that calculates outputs presented in Chapter 5 and Appendix C of CAP 3121.

1 September 2025

• The CAA published:
  • CAP 3129 - Onboarding Process for the UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) Provider which sets out how existing airspace change proposals within the London cluster of the airspace change masterplan will be transferred to a consolidated single airspace change proposal sponsored by NERL, the UKADS provider.
  • UKADS London TMA Region Onboarding FAQs.
  • An explanation and related diagram of the proposed inter-relationships between NERL (as the UKADS provider) and the current or potential legal and policy framework relevant to the single airspace change proposal for the London TMA Region. Some documents have yet to be published and will be subject to consultation. 

4 September 2025

• The DfT launched a consultation on proposed modifications to the terms of the air traffic services licence held by NERL, the proposed modifications are intended to support the implementation of the UKADS UK airspace design service: proposed modifications to NERL licence terms - GOV.UK

25 September 2025

• A part of a package of improvements to the effectiveness and proportionality of our process for changing airspace, the CAA published: 
  • Background information (CAP 3156) to support the autumn 2025 consultations being undertaken. A second updated edition was published on 17 November 2025
  • Consultation on the airspace change process (CAP 3157) a consultation on proposed modifications to the CAP 1616 airspace change process. 

13 November 2025

• The DfT published the draft UK Airspace Design Support Fund rules and eligibility criteria which explains what costs the fund covers, who can apply and the application process.

17 November 2025

• The DfT published NERL’s air traffic services licence terms decision notice.
• The DfT published the Strategic objectives for NERL’s UKADS and UKACS licence obligations. This is explained in CAP 3156.
• The CAA launched two related consultations in parallel:
  • CAP 3158 a consultation seeking views on draft CAA guidance with which NERL should comply when providing the UKADS and UKACS; and
  • CAP 3159 a consultation seeking views on draft requirements and associated guidance for NERL in providing the UKACS (the new coordination service in place of ACOG which would be provided by NERL for certain airspace changes outside the scope of the UKADS).
• The CAA also published an update to Background information (CAP 3156) to support the autumn 2025 consultations concerning airspace design.

25 November 2025

• The DfT launched a consultation on proposed changes to the air navigation directions and air navigation guidance.

9 December 2025

• The CAA published:
  • CAP 3164, a consultation detailing our final proposals for modifications to NERL’s air traffic services licence, and in support of that:
  • a financial model (CAP 3164A) that provides cost projections and calculates charging outputs referenced in the consultation.

17 December 2025

• The CAA published a letter from the DfT to NATS setting out the prioritisation which NERL should follow in making plans for UK airspace over the coming decade.