ENAIRE's Governing Board approves the new Strategic Plan to boost its roadmap through 2030

ENAIRE’s Governing Board approved today, Friday, the new strategic plan of the national air navigation service provider for the next five years (2026–2030), which defines the roadmap for the public business entity attached to the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.

ENAIRE’s Strategic Plan takes into account the exponential growth in air traffic in Spain, at a pace that points to increases of over 20% by 2031 compared with 2025

The so-called Flight Plan 2030 (hereinafter FP2030) consolidates the achievements in air navigation and international outreach attained by ENAIRE in the 2020–2025 five-year period and sets out a new boost through a firm commitment to digitisation, innovation and the provision of new services.

ENAIRE will ensure the coexistence of unmanned aircraft and conventional aviation as the sole provider in Spain of common information services within the U-Space framework (relating to the digital and automated management of drone traffic in accordance with European regulations). In international markets, it aims to consolidate its already prominent global role by providing services in the non-regulated market through alliances, strengthening business areas in its investee companies, and through the launch of its subsidiary, ENAIRE Global Services (EGS).

FP2030 has been approved in the context of strong growth in global air traffic—following the impact of the COVID pandemic on the aviation sector—which has confirmed ENAIRE as one of the essential air navigation service providers for the sustainable recovery of traffic growth, setting benchmark standards in safety, sustainability, and the reduction of air traffic control delays over the past year compared with the previous year.

Furthermore, ENAIRE's new strategic plan has been designed taking into account all industry forecasts, which predict that air traffic managed by Spain will continue to grow over the next five years at an annual rate of around 3.4%, a cumulative figure that points to an expected increase in air traffic of over 20% by 2031. 

Six strategic objectives

FP2030 is structured around six strategic objectives: to continue strengthening safety across all air navigation procedures; to keep improving the quality and resilience of services; to provide a new boost to the sustainable mobility strategy, including facilitating the entry of new participants such as drones, and contributing to decarbonisation and the mitigation of its acoustic footprint.

ENAIRE also plans to enhance its internationalisation through its strategic positioning—in both regulated and non-regulated markets—via its subsidiary ENAIRE Global Services (EGS) and its investee companies and alliances. Other objectives include increasing ENAIRE’s competitiveness as a financially sound and autonomous public business entity, and continuing to contribute to the transformation and modernisation of the organisation. All these objectives are consistent with European and national targets for the fourth reference period (2025–2029), and with the regulatory requirements of the Single European Sky.

FP2030 has the support of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility and was developed through a participatory process involving ENAIRE staff and its main stakeholders, enabling the definition of a strategic plan that reinforces a collaborative spirit and responds to the needs of an increasingly complex and demanding sector.

The Secretary of State at the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, and Chair of ENAIRE, José Antonio Santano, emphasised the strength of FP2030 as a lever for the economy and employment in Spain: “ENAIRE’s Strategic Plan will be a lever for the aviation sector and, therefore, for job creation and wealth generation in our country”.

In the same vein, ENAIRE’s Chief Executive Officer, Enrique Maurer, highlighted the robustness of FP2030: “ENAIRE’s Strategic Plan builds on the solid track record of our service provision during the implementation of the previous strategic plan, which has the trust of our stakeholders, and will allow us to continue to be key players in the air navigation sector in Europe while providing a new impetus to the internationalisation of our services”.

Enrique Maurer also emphasised the involvement and commitment of ENAIRE’s more than 4,400 employees as a key factor in the success of a plan preceded by a highly positive management record well recognised within the sector. It should be noted that ENAIRE expects to close 2025 having managed over 2.5 million flights, 14% more than before the pandemic, with improvements in safety, service quality, and sustainability ratios compared with the previous year.

Focus on sustainability

Regarding the different areas of FP2030, ENAIRE’s new strategic plan places particular emphasis on environmental sustainability, with measures aimed at further reducing its carbon footprint and improving operational efficiency. Over the past five years, ENAIRE has avoided the emission of 300,000 tonnes of CO₂ through airspace optimisation, and the new plan foresees an additional reduction of 40,000 tonnes during its implementation period.

Technological transformation is another pillar of FP2030. The plan includes the evolution of air traffic management systems, communications, navigation and surveillance systems, the incorporation of advanced digital solutions, and the deployment of an artificial intelligence strategy that will enhance the efficiency, safety, and responsiveness of air navigation services. In addition, it will promote the integration of new users such as drones and high-altitude and space operations.

Flight Plan 2030 also strengthens ENAIRE’s international dimension, consolidating its role in international innovation and air navigation alliances and consortia such as SESAR, iTEC, CANSO, and the A6 Alliance of leading European air navigation service providers. Likewise, the creation of ENAIRE Global Services (EGS) and participation in projects such as Startical or the European Satellite Services Provider (ESSP) form part of the strategy to expand non-regulated business internationally, positioning the entity as a global provider in an increasingly competitive and liberalised sector.

Another key aspect of FP2030 concerns workforce scaling to manage growing air traffic while maintaining the same quality standards. It is worth noting that in the past two years alone, 307 new air traffic control positions have been created under the development of the previous Strategic Plan for the 2020–2025 five-year period. Flight Plan 2030 will continue to reinforce staffing across the different areas of the organisation, complementing efficiency measures arising from technological and airspace investment projects undertaken or planned by ENAIRE.

With the Governing Board's approval of FP2030, ENAIRE reaffirms its commitment to excellence in air traffic management, operational safety, and sustainability. The plan represents a robust response to future challenges and a guarantee that Spain will continue to lead the technological and operational modernisation of air navigation in Europe, for the benefit of society and the entire air transport system.

[José Antonio Santano, Secretary of State for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, and Enrique Maurer, Director General of ENAIRE]

About ENAIRE 

ENAIRE is the air navigation service provider in Spain.

As a company of the Ministry of Sustainable Transport and Mobility, it provides air traffic control services during the en route and approach phases of all flights to and from Spain and overflights. In addition, it manages communications, navigation and surveillance services from ENAIRE in the airspace and the entire AENA airport network in Spain and provides aerodrome air traffic control services in 21 airports, including the busiest.

ENAIRE is the fourth largest European air navigation service provider, and it is a member of international partnerships A6 Alliance, SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) Joint Undertaking, SESAR Deployment Manager, iTEC, CANSO (Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation) and collaborates closely with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization).

ENAIRE has obtained the highest rating in the key performance indicator for air safety at European scale for six consecutive years, the last five with the maximum possible score of 100%. It has also been awarded the EFQM 600 Seal for its safe, efficient, innovative and sustainable management of air navigation services.