The UK's airspace increased in efficiency during 2013.

Data released by air traffic control operator Nats showed during last year, the company was able to achieve a score of 23.7. This was marginally better than the 23.9 achieved the previous year and well within the Civil Aviation Authority's target of 24.

The rating is calculated using a three-dimensional metric where each flight is measured on a scale where zero represents total efficiency. Results showed most aircraft came in between 15 and 35. 

Despite this positive news, the organisation acknowledges it will have to double its efforts to be under target for 2014. This is because the regulator has announced it has reduced its threshold down to 23.

Ian Jopson, head of environmental affairs at Nats, commented: "We have a target to enable a four per cent reduction in air traffic management CO2 and fuel burn on average per aircraft by the end of 2014."

He added the company has around 30 other possible measures under consideration which it hopes will help it achieve the new target.