A Financial Analysis of the National Air Traffic Services PPP

The collapse of the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) Public—Private Partnership (PPP) raises questions about the rationale, appraisal and risks of the Government's partnerships policy in the context of essential services that cannot be allowed to fail. This article shows that the NATS PPP was not affordable, even without the unprecedented downturn in travel after September 11th 2001. The PPP exacerbated rather than resolved NATS' financial problems. The author concludes by questioning the rigour and appropriateness of the Government's appraisal processes.