Spain would consider ceding management of ATS services in Sahara airspace to Morocco

Badr Tadlaoui
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10.02pm – November 20, 2024

According to information reported by sources in the aeronautics sector and relayed by Senator Aniceto Javier Armas González, Spain could consider transferring to Morocco the provision of air navigation control (ATS) services in the Sahara airspace. This decision, if it materializes, would strengthen the recognition of Morocco’s legitimate sovereignty over this territory.

According to the same source, the Spanish Ministry of Transport is considering outsourcing the provision of ATS (Air Traffic Services) services to Morocco. The Spanish government would justify this decision by explaining “that this is not a transfer of the airspace itself, but only of the operational management of ATS services.” Senator Armas González considers that such a transfer amounts, in practice, to “to cede effective control of this strategic space to Rabat.”

The plan to entrust Morocco with responsibility for ATS services in this area reflects, according to observers, a desire for change in the management of air navigation. This decision would be part of a logic of cooperation between two neighboring countries, firmly linked by bilateral agreements and common strategic interests. The attribution of the management of ATS services to Rabat would reinforce this state of affairs and guarantee better coordination with the entire Moroccan airspace, say the defenders of this project.

ATS services encompass a range of essential activities, including air traffic control, in-flight information and emergency alerts. In dense or sensitive areas, these services require advanced technological infrastructure, mastery of international standards set by ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), and effective coordination with regional players. Morocco is well positioned to provide these services in the Saharan space. The country already has modern equipment and certified human capacities, capable of meeting ICAO technical requirements, particularly in terms of managing complex airspaces.

The integration of Saharan ATS services into the Moroccan network offers operational continuity that has been requested for years. This transfer would also underline Morocco’s rise as a key player in the field of air navigation in Africa and beyond. Morocco has invested massively in the modernization of its air infrastructure, in particular through the acquisition of advanced surveillance systems such as SSR secondary radars, ADS-B and ATM (Air Traffic Management) technologies.