ENAIRE GLOBAL SERVICES appoints Santiago Cortés as CEO to drive ENAIRE’s international expansion

Following the completion of all procedures and approvals for the formal establishment of the new company ENAIRE GLOBAL SERVICES (EGS), its Board of Directors approved on 13 February the appointment of Santiago Cortés Burns as CEO of the subsidiary created by ENAIRE to drive the internationalisation of the state air navigation manager as a global operator in the non-regulated sector. 

With the appointment of Santiago Cortés as CEO of EGS, ENAIRE takes a further step in its strategy to strengthen its international strategic positioning in the non-regulated sector, in line with its new 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, the 2030 Flight Plan. 

The Council of Ministers agreed in 2025 to authorise the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility to establish EGS as a subsidiary of ENAIRE to operate in the non-regulated air navigation market, focusing its activity on three main business lines, primarily internationally: air traffic management operational services; technological and consultancy services; and drone and new user services. It should be noted that several leading national European air navigation service providers have already created similar companies to position themselves as global operators. Following this approval, all necessary procedures and formalities to launch the new ENAIRE subsidiary have been successfully completed, culminating in the appointment of its CEO. 

Santiago Cortés Burns holds a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (with his final project completed at the University of Manchester), completed the Executive Development Programme at IESE, and has extensive experience in the air navigation sector both nationally and abroad. 

Prior to this appointment, he was Head of ENAIRE’s Safety Division, leading operational safety management, cybersecurity, and the protection of personnel and facilities. He has also been a member of ENAIRE’s Executive Committee since 2015 and served on the Board of Directors of INECO from 2019 to 2025. 

Internationally, he was Chair of the Air Traffic Management Advisory Group to the Director General of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) from 2022 to December 2025. Additionally, between June 2015 and July 2022, as head of the then Safety, Quality and Environment Division, he was responsible for ENAIRE’s client relations. 

Santiago Cortés began his career in 2000 at INECO, providing technical support and managing AENA’s participation in European research and development programmes. In 2006, he joined AENA, where he held various positions, including responsibility for the Single European Sky Projects, Planning, International Policy, and Certification units. 

He has also worked for the European Commission, coordinating the first version of the Pilot Common Project, and for the SESAR Deployment Manager as a senior planning expert. 

All of this gives him a clear international focus and career path, serving as a distinctive complement to his business vision in air navigation developed through his various leadership roles at ENAIRE. 

[Santiago Cortés Burns]. 

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.