The final stage of transferring operations to the new air traffic control centre, which is responsible for one of the largest air spaces in Europe, was completed between 7pm on Friday and 4am on Saturday. Air traffic controllers were forced to move home in a matter of days in order to finish a shift in Manchester and start their next at Prestwick, near Glasgow, as only one centre can be in operation at any one time for safety reasons.

The new centre has been built by the semi-privatised air traffic control company, Nats, as part of a move to consolidate operations at two locations. The Swanwick Centre in Hampshire oversees aircraft flying in and out of the congested skies in the south of England. It will control 42% of the 2.2 million flights in the UK’s controlled airspace.

The move brings to an end 35 years of air traffic control from the centre in Manchester.