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Other UK statistics

Other reports

Other websites and related statistics

Aviation statistics are collated from various sources and published by the Department for Transport (DfT) in a number of compendium publications. Sources include the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the UK Airprox Board.

Publications
Travel Survey for Northern Ireland
Department: Regional Development (Northern Ireland)
The publication contains data on trends in personal travel, how people travel, why people travel and other factors affecting travel.
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Overview

Aviation statistics provides trends on the following:

  • Activity at UK airports

  • Activity at international airports

  • Punctuality at UK airports

  • Main outputs of UK airlines

  • Casualties caused by aviation accidents

  • Number of aircraft proximity incidents, and

  • Number of personnel employed by UK airlines

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Technical Data

The Department for Transport (DfT) do not collect aviation statistics although they do collate and publish data collected from other sources. 

These sources include:

The data are published in compendium publications by DfT. For example:

DfT also publish Air Traffic Forecasts.

Information is collected from UK airports and UK airlines by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA is the UK's specialist aviation regulator and publishes a range of information on UK airlines, airports and punctuality. Statistics are published on the CAA website.

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Glossary

  • Aircraft Proximity Hazard (AIRPROX)

    An AIRPROX is a situation in which, in the opinion of a pilot or controller, the distance between aircraft as well as their relative positions and speed have been such that the safety of the aircraft was or may have been compromised. AIRPROX can occur between various combinations of commercial, military and private aircraft.

  • Airline

    Public transport flights, which are subject to a United Kingdom Air Transport Licence. Also public transport flights which are not subject to a United Kingdom Air Transport Licence, but which utilise aircraft having a maximum take-off weight of 15 tonnes or more. Positioning flights are excluded.

  • Air transport movements

    All scheduled movements (whether loaded or empty) and loaded charter movements, but excludes empty positioning flights by scheduled aircraft and empty charter movements.

  • Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

    The CAA is the UK’s aviation regulator.

  • International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)

    The International Civil Aviation Organization is the global forum for civil aviation.

  • Non-scheduled services

    Air transport movements other than scheduled services.

  • Passengers

    All revenue and non-revenue travellers on air transport movement flights.

  • Scheduled services

    Those performed according to a published timetable, including those supplementary thereto, available for use by members of the public.

  • Terminal passengers

    All travellers joining or leaving an aircraft. A passenger travelling on a domestic flight (between two reporting UK airports) is counted twice, once at each airport. A passenger who changes from one aircraft to another, carrying the same flight number is treated as a terminal passenger, as is an interlining passenger.

  • Transit passengers

    Travellers who arrive and depart at an airport on the same aircraft. Each transit passenger is counted once only and not both on arrival and on departure.

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Contact Details

For statistical enquiries about this topic, please contact:

Aviation Statistics Branch

Email: AVIATION.STATS@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Telephone: + 44 (0) 207 944 3088

Aviation Statistics Branch, SLAM Department for Transport 2/29 Great Minster House 76 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DR

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