Brussels, 10/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - In order to reduce air traffic charges, the highest in Europe, and to bring its legislation more into line with the provisions of Single Sky regulations which modernise European air traffic control, the Spanish government has decided to partially liberalise air traffic control services. Liberalisation relates to the provision of air traffic control services in certain airports and control towers as well as to initial air traffic control training. The national provider of navigation services (AENA) will remain the authority for provision of air traffic control services “en route” (i.e. before the plane approaches the controlled part of the airport) and in the approach phase. A decree on this issue was adopted on Friday 5 February. According to the civil air traffic control services (CANSO), which strongly support the decision, the decree sets a scheme of concessions in place that may be granted to certified air traffic control service providers not only in control towers but also in airports. The Ministry of Promotion (Ministerio de Fomento) will be responsible for designating providers of air traffic control services in airports whereas the airport concessionary will be responsible for designating the providers of services from the control tower and depending on services requirements. AENA will have two months in which to present its study to the ministry, identifying in which airports liberalisation may be implemented. It will be up to the Spanish national supervisory authority (AESA) to approve the new air services providers as well as the training entities that will have to ensure the controllers' initial training. The text also provides for gradual reduction of “en route” traffic charges until 2013, when their value will be comparable to the average prices imposed by the five main European air navigation services providers. The new legislation also lays the bases for settling social issues (controllers' working time and conditions) and brings in a sanctions regime allowing personnel to be dismissed if they jeopardise security or the continuity of air service provision in any way. (A.By./transl.jl)