Spain Considers Handing Air Traffic Control in Western Sahara to Morocco

According to sources in the aviation sector, the Spanish Ministry of Transport is considering making this decision, specifying "that it is not a cession of the airspace itself, but only the operational management of the ATS services." For Spanish Senator Armas González, this transfer of ATS services would amount to "ceding effective control of this strategic space to Rabat."

According to some observers, this decision would reflect Spain’s desire to make a major change in the management of air navigation, and would aim to strengthen its bilateral cooperation with Morocco, a neighbor and strategic partner, and to improve the management of the airspace of the Sahara, in coordination with the competent services of the kingdom.

The provision of ATS services includes air traffic control, in-flight information and alerts related to emergency situations. It requires state-of-the-art technological infrastructures, mastery of the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and effective coordination with regional actors, says Barlamane.com.

Morocco meets these conditions, it is noted, stressing that the kingdom has the resources and technical equipment (SSR, ADS-B and ATM - Air Traffic Management) to provide these services in the airspace of the Sahara, in accordance with ICAO standards. If the transfer decision materializes, it would confirm Morocco’s leadership in air navigation in Africa.