South Sudan has taken full control of its airspace for the first time since independence, ending years of dependence on Sudan for upper-air traffic management and overflight fee collection. The Civil Aviation Authority and Ministry of Transport have linked the handover to the new national air traffic management system at Juba International Airport and to international aviation coordination that now gives Juba direct responsibility for monitoring flights and collecting revenue.
The change follows the inauguration of South Sudan’s first fully operational independent air traffic management system in May and the subsequent separation of a Juba flight information region from Khartoum under ICAO approval at the end of June. South Sudan will now manage airspace up to about 6,000 metres, taking over functions that previously sat with Sudan, including supervision of overflights and the collection of associated fees.
The shift is commercially significant for a country that depends heavily on oil and is seeking more non-oil income. Direct control of the airspace is expected to improve state revenue, while also giving Juba greater scope to regulate routes, strengthen safety oversight and develop regional aviation links.