Just two days ago Ryanair called on the Spanish Government to intervene urgently to address the growing capacity and staffing problems at ENAIRE’s air traffic control, after Spain overtook France as Europe’s worst ATC provider.
And coincidentally today it was announced that from 16 September, Paloma Páez Rodríguez will be the new director of the Balearic region for the state air navigation service provider Enaire, taking over from Alejandro Mena, who has held this post since January 2023 and is stepping down to continue his professional career at Eurocontrol.
Páez holds a degree in Telecommunications Engineering, specialising in Telematics, from the University of the Balearic Islands, and has 25 years’ experience in the field of air navigation and technology systems management, the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has stated in a press release.
In this role, Páez will continue to drive forward Enaire’s strategic projects in the Balearic region, as set out in the ‘Strategic Plan of the Public Enterprise: Flight Plan 2030’. Enaire’s incoming director for the Balearic Islands joined the state-run organisation in 2001 as an ATSEP Technician for Air Navigation Systems. In her role, she has been involved in the operation, maintenance and development of the technological infrastructure supporting the provision of air navigation services.
In 2007, she was promoted to ATSEP Coordinator for Air Navigation Systems, a role she held until 2013, leading the coordination of teams and the supervision of Communications, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) systems.
She subsequently took on the role of Head of the Management Support Unit, further strengthening her expertise in planning, management and organisational coordination. Since 2015, she has been Head of the Regional Technical Operations Division for Enaire’s Balearic Region, leading the operation, management and technological transformation of air navigation systems at a regional level.
Among the most significant projects under her leadership are the modernisation of the CNS and SACTA systems, involving the roll-out of new operational functionalities, such as the implementation of ‘paperless operations’ in the region’s control towers, the management of technical operational contingencies and participation in strategic initiatives for the organisation.
The statement highlights that her career is characterised by a combination of technical expertise, leadership skills and the ability to manage complex projects, contributing significantly to innovation, modernisation and the operational continuity of air navigation services.