AlUla International Airport in Saudi Arabia has begun operating with a fully remote air traffic control model, using a digital tower system delivered by Indra and implemented in partnership with Saudi Air Navigation Services and its technology division NERA.
The project allows take-offs and landings to be managed from a control centre around 550 kilometres away in Jeddah.
This marks the first time an airport in the Middle East has entered operational service with a fully remote digital tower for air traffic control.
The system replaces the need for a conventional on-site control tower. A mast equipped with high-definition cameras and sensors has been installed at the airport to capture live visual and operational data. These feeds are transmitted in real time to controllers working at the remote centre, where airport movements are supervised and coordinated.
Controllers use a 360-degree videowall that presents a continuous 4K image of runways, taxiways and restricted areas. The platform also includes night vision functions, artificial intelligence-based detection tools, and augmented reality overlays designed to support aircraft identification and situational awareness.
Mr. Saleh Alzahrani, COO of Saudi Air Navigation Services, said:The integration of SANS’s operational expertise with the innovative capabilities of the virtual tower demonstrates our dedication to transforming air navigation services. This partnership enhances our ability to provide seamless, safe, and efficient air traffic management, paving the way for a smarter and more connected aviation future.
The digital tower at AlUla is integrated with Indra’s ManagAir automation platform, which is used in air traffic environments in multiple countries. The software supports route calculation and traffic planning functions intended to improve flight efficiency and reduce fuel use and carbon emissions.
Víctor Martínez, Executive Vice President of ATM at Indra, said:This project will establish Indra as a benchmark in advanced and innovative digital technology, which enables remote operation in projects such as Al Ula Airport, while in other environments it enhances airport efficiency, safety, and operational capacity, as already occurs in Norway, where 15 airfields are controlled at a single center; at Budapest Airport, where it improves airport operations; and at the airport in Vancouver, one of the largest and busiest in the world, where Indra’s solution will manage operations on seven of its aprons.
