ICAO Approves New Flight Region for South Sudan

(JUBA) – The International Civil Aviation Organisation has approved the creation of the Juba Flight Information Region, a decision that transfers full control of South Sudan’s airspace from Sudan to Juba.

The approval came after a formal submission led by the Director General of the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority, Ayiei Garang Ayiei, at the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium held in Marrakech, Morocco, in April 2026.

The move separates South Sudan’s airspace from the Khartoum Flight Information Region, which previously managed the upper skies over the country.

A Flight Information Region is a defined block of airspace where a national aviation authority provides air traffic services. These include flight information, navigation assistance, weather updates, and emergency alert services.

With the new Juba FIR, the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority will now assume these responsibilities over its own territory.

The proposal was formally presented as an amendment to ICAO air navigation plans, establishing both the Juba Flight Information Region and a corresponding Search and Rescue Region. It confirms South Sudan’s sovereign responsibility for air traffic services over its territory.

The plan results from years of work and close coordination with neighbouring states, the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority, ICAO, and other regional and international partners.

The new flight information region is designed to improve aviation safety, modernise air navigation services, and bring the country’s airspace management in line with international standards.

The proposal was circulated to nearly 100 states and more than five international bodies, including the African Civil Aviation Commission, the International Air Transport Association, and the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations. Sudan and South Sudan received the documents for information only.

The secretariat noted that the proposed boundaries of the Juba and Khartoum flight information regions are based on dimensions already approved by the ICAO Council. The adjustment also aligns with a recent ICAO Assembly resolution.

Officials described the approval as a major step in strengthening the country’s position within the global aviation community.