Expected increase in traffic & ATC

[Sebas]

Hi all,

"Company x orders xx new Boeings", "Shortage of pilots expected", "Aviation traffic expected to increase xx% within 2 years".

Those headlines are making the news the last months. I like those headlines, it indicates an optimistic future of aviation.

However, one issue worries me. Today air traffic controllers are already having a very hard task: lots of traffic, often departing/arriving at the same (peak) hours, and they all want to be safe at their destination as soon as possible.

Although "near misses" are occuring each month, I have the impression that the current amount of traffic is very managable.

But, with the expected increase of air traffic, the job of ATC will become harder and harder.

I'm interested in the opinion of the readers of this forum.

• * Will the amount of traffic become unmanagable at one point?
  * Will the number of ATC delays increase?
  * Will the number of near misses increase?
  * What about Heathrow's Bovingdon stack: will this be able to handle the increased amount of traffic?

And last but not least:

• * What are your suggestions to keep the increased amount of traffic safe and managable? What would you do?

I'm of course also willing to hear any comments that don't fit in these questions.

Thanks, and regards,
Sebas