The modernisation of airspace at Gatwick is being implemented by the Future Airspace Strategy Implementation – South (FASIS).
These are maps of the current flight paths flown today. The amount of traffic to the east and west depends on the wind direction, as planes always land and take off into the wind.
This is the current airspace picture, but it is all set to change with the modernisation of airspace, as Gatwick seeks growth, efficiency and saving fuel. Public consultation is due early 2027, if not delayed again. The south of Gatwick will be reviewed first, as this is the area identified by ACOG and Gatwick for growth. The re-design north of Gatwick will be delayed due to complications with Heathrow flight path changes and growth.
The orange corridors are where departures fly, called Noise Preferential Routes. With modernisation of airspace and concentrated flight paths, these NPR will go. Route 9 is never used. The black numbers are the joins to the final approach for arrivals – 8nm (nautical miles) is the closest join during the day and 10nm is at night.
You will see in the west that the departure routes mirror arrivals swathes (with the wind in the other direction); this is not so much the case to the east.
The north does not receive arrivals traffic but is impacted by Heathrow mapping and two Gatwick departure routes (route 3 and 4). With the modernisation of airspace, Heathrow airspace may climb to allow Gatwick airspace to climb.
The west airspace is also subject to Farnborough airport traffic congestion.
On the next map, pink areas show the arrivals swathes, which will become concentrated routes with the modernisation of airspace. As the prevailing wind is from the west, 70% of departures fly west with 30% arrivals traffic coming from the west (when the wind is from the east). The east receives 70% of arrival traffic and 30% of departures. Departures can climb quickly to the east, as it is not so affected by Heathrow traffic height restrictions, unlike the west and north of Gatwick.
Holding stacks for arrivals (pink circles at bottom of map) may go out to sea, and time-based arrivals should help with reducing the delays for passengers and saving fuel and CO2. This will leave empty airspace for new flight paths.
The south of Gatwick has been identified by ACOG (aviation body) and Gatwick for growth, so new flight paths could be added which would allow for growth over new areas not currently impacted by aircraft noise.
More aircraft equals more noise and more emissions, as aviation struggles to decarbonise.
There is no compensation for anyone, whether currently overflown or newly overflown by airspace change.
The Gatwick public consultation is expected in early 2026 for Gatwick south. North will be delayed until Heathrow is ready to progress on airspace change requirements.
Here is a link to the live Gatwick Airport airspace mapping, where you can add in your address and see the current flights live, as well as noise created:
https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/eKlUCJqZns8WX0GFVEjyJ?domain=webtrak.emsbk.com
- UKADS is the new government-appointed body to ensure airspace change progresses smoothly, but is aviation led.
- Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) conduct a consultation process called CAP1616 for any airspace change. The public are consulted at stage 3 of the 7 stages, with the CAA making the final decision at the end of the process. UKADS will now conduct the public consultation. Find out more here: https://airspacechange.caa.co.uk/about-airspace-change/
- CAA – If you would like to contact them about issues with airspace access or air traffic service refusals, please complete and return Form FCS 1522. You can also complete and return Form FCS 1521 if you wish to contact the CAA about aircraft noise or other concerns about the use of UK airspace, such as low flying aircraft.