The UK government has announced plans to “modernise” the country’s airspace management in a bid to reduce delays, bottlenecks and emissions from flights.

The Department for Transport has launched a consultation process to examine ways to improve the use of UK airspace by initially looking at London’s air traffic management.

The government is promising the “biggest shake-up” in how UK airspace is managed for 70 years, with the intention to “cut flight delays, reduce carbon emissions and deliver growth”.

This process will involve the creation of the UK Airspace Design Service, which will work with airports to make more efficient use of the country’s busy airspace.

UK aviation minister Mike Kane said: “UK airspace is one of the nation’s biggest invisible assets, but it’s been stuck in the past – a 1950s pilot would find that little has changed.

“Our once-in-a-generation creation of a UK Airspace Design Service will not only drive forward airspace modernisation and create a system that’s fit for the future, but it will help create quicker routes, ease delays and reduce harmful emissions – making air travel a better experience for all.”

The UK’s airspace is under pressure due to record numbers of flights this year and London is the “busiest and most congested” area for aircraft movements in the country.

Rob Bishton, chief executive of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), said: “Modernising our airspace is crucial to delivering a more efficient, sustainable and resilient system. The proposals we’ve outlined today set out the next steps in our ongoing efforts to progress the modernisation of UK airspace.  

“This builds on the important work already done across the industry towards a more streamlined, sustainable airspace system that benefits passengers, airlines and local communities.”

In a statement, the Department for Transport said: “The UK Airspace Design Service would create a holistic and integrated design, simplifying the process and bureaucracy in coordination with airports, airlines and air navigation service providers to deliver benefits for passengers and local communities impacted by aviation noise.”

It added that modernising airspace would reduce disruption to air traffic through using “more efficient” flight paths and also lead to lower emissions as aircraft would spend less time in the air.