Ferrovial and NATS announce intention to bid jointly for air traffic control services in Spain

Spain's Infrastructure Ministry has announced plans to privatise air traffic control at the airports of Alicante, Valencia, Ibiza, La Palma, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Sevilla, Jerez, Sabadell, Cuatro Vientos, Vigo, La Coruña and Melilla during 2011.

"Our alliance with NATS combines our knowledge of the aviation industry and the specific features of the Spanish market with NATS' track record in air traffic control and its unique experience in the privatisation of such a sensitive sector, said Santiago Olivares, CEO of Ferrovial Services.

Paul Reid, Managing Director, NATS Services, said: We are very much looking forward to developing further our relationship with Ferrovial, building on the strong links we have already established in the UK. Since privatisation, NATS has demonstrated an excellent track record in safety and quality of service, leading the industry in reducing ATC-related delays.

Since 2001, NATS has been owned by a public private partnership in which the UK Government has a 49% shareholding and the majority of shares are held privately. The company has just reported its sixth successive year of profit.