'We're keen to recruit air traffic controllers'

AIRPORT'S OPERATIONS DIRECTOR ON THE INDUSTRY'S GLOBAL SHORTAGE

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

EAST Midlands Airport is facing a “challenge” in its air traffic control team amid a global shortage of people coming into the industry.

Airport directors have stressed that numbers are not significantly below where they would want them to be, saying the staffing shortage is a long way off being at a level that would affect operations.

But they acknowledge that getting the next generation of air traffic controllers into an “ageing” industry will not be a quick process.

East Midlands Airport said when marking a significant anniversary for its air traffic control team in 2024 that the department comprised 49 staff including engineers and a head of air traffic control.

It now has several vacancies for which it is “actively recruiting” and a new head of air traffic control is due to start in the new year.