The move is designed to increase capacity

It is in response to the fast growth of cheaper airlines and an accelerated demand for flights between northern UK and Europe.

The southern North sea sector, which is an area measuring about 8,000 square miles, was previously controlled by the new Swanwick control centre.

More than 78,000 flights passed through the sector last year and that is expected to increase to more than 100,000 by the year 2007.

Nats Chief Executive, Richard Everitt, said; "This move represents the largest reorganisation of UK airspace in 40 years.

"The rapid growth of the low cost airlines has led to an accelerated demand for flights between northern UK and Europe.

"This move will strengthen Scotland's role in providing more control of UK airspace."

On-the-job training

Nats said the change will mean a "better balance" of services between Swanwick and Prestwick and �1bn has been invested in plans to cut delays and handle more flights.

He said: "Our centre at Prestwick has the capacity to handle those additional flights and help provide on-the-job training for the additional controllers we will be recruiting over the next 10 years."

Prestwick has also been given responsibility for handling more flights en-route from Northern Ireland to Europe.

Nats said it remains committed to building a new air traffic control centre at Prestwick.

The project was put on hold last year because of the downturn in international traffic following the 11 September attacks on the US.

However, Nats expects that the new centre will be operational by 2008/9.

In a further move, it said it is cutting the workload of controllers and pilots by "straightening and widening the route" the main route between northern England and Europe.

Nats said the effect will be to allow "one-way traffic flows" and reduce manoeuvring of flights.