Spanish air traffic controllers in the Canary Islands monitor Western Sahara’s airspace as Moroccan military planes pass through without prior notice. This happens more often now, as Morocco moves to take over the region’s air traffic management.
Reports show Morocco already manages 15-20% of Western Sahara’s airspace through what Spanish officials call “unilateral actions.” The country created four restricted zones, which it turns on and off without telling Spanish controllers. These zones appear in Moroccan flight documents but not in Spanish ones.
Morocco Builds New Air Control Centre
Morocco’s Office National Des Aéroports will open a new control tower in Smara city this spring. Workers will build it in eight months. The tower lets Morocco run air traffic operations from inside Western Sahara, rather than relying on Spanish controllers.
Customs Posts See Long Border Delays
At Ceuta and Melilla’s newly reopened customs posts, trucks wait for hours. One inspection lasted 11 hours in January 2025. Spanish news outlets say Morocco uses these delays to push Spain into giving up airspace control. The current rules allow just two trucks daily – one per city.
Spanish Minister Calls Reports False
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares says media reports about airspace transfers are “hoaxes.” Albans tells parliament Spain and Morocco follow “a clear, transparent roadmap.” Yet he won’t share details about the talks.
Money drives part of this debate. Spain gets paid when planes cross Western Sahara. Many flights between Europe and South America use these routes. The International Civil Aviation Organisation says planes must report to Spanish controllers at Gando airport.
Canary Islands Watch Tourism Routes
Senator Javier Armas warns about risks to Canary Islands tourism. He says Moroccan control could mean changed flight paths and fewer visitors. Local officials worry about lost income if Morocco restricts air access.
Spanish and Moroccan officials met twice in private about the airspace. These meetings came after Spain backed Morocco’s Western Sahara autonomy plan in 2022. Spain’s new position strained ties with neighboring Algeria, a steadfast supporter of self-determination in Western Sahara.
Past events show how air traffic fits into diplomacy. In 2021, when Spain treated Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali, Moroccan military planes stopped telling Spanish controllers about their flights.
Morocco’s Diplomatic Tools
Morocco wields quiet but firm control over its European relations through carefully managed pressure points. At the Spanish borders of Ceuta and Melilla, Morocco’s customs officials can slow crossings to a crawl or speed them up, as seen in 2021 when thousands of migrants entered Ceuta during tensions over Western Sahara.
The Kingdom’s location makes it central to Europe’s migration management. Rather than public confrontation, Morocco opts for behind-the-scenes leverage. When Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares faces questions about delayed flights or border holdups, he follows his predecessors in keeping discussions private while downplaying public concerns.
Morocco builds its leverage through economic ties too. The country’s fish-rich waters and agricultural exports give it bargaining power. Its control of key transport routes lets it apply pressure through seemingly routine administrative changes, like the current air traffic control adjustments.
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