 Air traffic services for all UK airspace is provided by National Air Traffic Services ( NATS ) , which also provides air traffic control at 15 airports . The largest airport operator is BAA Limited , owner of six UK airports including London Heathrow airport . In some cases airport ownership is in the hands of local government authorities rather than private businesses , and the largest UK owned operator , Manchester Airports Group , operator of Manchester Airport , Bournemouth Airport , East Midlands Airport , and Humberside Airport , is owned by a consortium of 10 Manchester area local authorities . Whilst the number of airports in the UK runs into hundreds , many are smaller aerodromes dealing with general aviation rather than air transport . In terms of the latter , statistics are collected from 59 main airports , and the largest concentration of services is located in the London and South East of England areas . 
