The UK's air traffic service provider Nats has launched a new trial aimed at reducing aircraft holding times at Heathrow.

A new operational procedure has come into force which allows the agency to contact its counterparts in the Netherlands, France, Scotland and Ireland, and ask them to slow down the speed of aeroplanes up to 350 miles away from London. The organisation hopes this will reduce the amount of delay caused by the planes having to circle in holding stacks as they wait to land. 

Until now, Nats has only been able to influence an aircraft's approach to Heathrow once it enters UK airspace. Sometimes, this means the aeroplane will only be some 80 miles away from the airport, giving the agency less time to manage traffic flow and minimise delays.

Martin Rolfe, managing director of operations at Nats, commented: "Slowing aircraft down when they are much higher will save fuel and CO2 emissions, while reducing the impact of noise for those living under the holding stacks in the south-east of England."

The trial is being spearheaded by the UK air traffic agency, with close cooperation from its French counterpart, DSNA, the Maastricht upper area control centre and Prestwick control centre. It aims to cut current average holding times to just eight minutes, a reduction of around 25 per cent compared to current levels.