The management of airspace over the Moroccan Sahara has re-emerged as a topic of discussion in the Spanish parliament, with reports suggesting that the Senate is examining the potential transfer of airspace control to Morocco, according to media coverage this week.
Since 1976 when Spain’s colonization of Morocco ended, Spain has managed this airspace through the Canary Islands Air Traffic Control Center.
The proposed transfer, reportedly under consideration by Spain’s Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, would include “the entire airspace of the Sahara.”
In March 2022, the Spanish government confirmed ongoing negotiations with Morocco regarding airspace management over the Moroccan Sahara.
The dialogue was part of a joint statement issued by the two countries in April 2022, when King Mohammed VI hosted Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, marking a new phase in bilateral relations.