A new Anglo-Spanish joint venture, FerroNATS, is bidding for air traffic control contracts at Spain's newly liberalised airports.
Spanish company Ferrovial Servicios, which owns major UK airports operator BAA, has linked with NATS, the UK's leading air navigation service provider, to bid for ATC contracts tendered by the state-run Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea agency.
Spain's infrastructure ministry has announced plans to privatise air traffic control at the airports of Alicante, Valencia, Ibiza, La Palma, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Seville, Jerez, Sabadell, Cuatro Vientos, Vigo, La Coruña and Melilla, grouped into three batches.
Ferrovial chief executive Santiago Olivares says: "FerroNATS inherits over 10 years of experience in a liberalised air traffic services market, namely the UK. This alliance combines our knowledge of the airport sector and the client with the technical and human capabilities that NATS provides in the area of managing air traffic."
Paul Reid, general manager, NATS Services, says: "All service quality indicators have improved in the 10 years since [UK air navigation services providers] liberalisation, reflecting the success of the NATS approach. FerroNATS will bring together NATS' air traffic control expertise with Ferrovial's deep roots in Spanish airfield operations."
Source: Flight International
