Deputy Director General of Air Transport 2026: call, salary and requirements

Key data

The State Secretariat for Transport and Sustainable Mobility is launching the provision of one of the key management positions in the Spanish air sector. The position of Deputy Director General of Air Transport, with level 30 and a specific allowance of €30,436, is called through the free appointment system by means of the Resolution of 20 July 2026, published in the BOE of 27 July 2026.

The deadline for submitting applications is 10 calendar days counted from that date, which places the closure of the deadline around 6 August 2026. The urgency is maximum: anyone who does not submit their candidacy within that timeframe is automatically excluded from the process.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution calls for the provision of the position of Deputy Director General of Air Transport assigned to the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, through the free appointment system. This system allows the Administration to select the most suitable candidate with greater discretion than in merit competitions, although subject to a structured evaluation process.

The functions of the position include:

• Design and implementation of air sector policy.
• Development and monitoring of aeronautical regulations.
• International negotiation on aviation matters.
• Management of air traffic rights.

The selection process consists of the following phases:

• Evaluation of the candidate's curriculum vitae.
• Justification of suitability for the position.
• Self-assessment questionnaire.
• Interview before a panel of experts.

The appointment will have a maximum duration of 5 years, being renewable. Applications must be submitted exclusively through the Funciona portal with an electronic certificate.

Economic and operational impact

For the civil servant who obtains the position, the remuneration impact is immediate and significant. Level 30 is the maximum on the destination allowance scale of the General State Administration, to which is added a specific allowance of €30,436 per year. This places the total remuneration of the position in one of the highest bands within the deputy director general positions.

From an operational point of view, the position implies direct responsibility for Spain's national and international air policy, including the negotiation of bilateral aviation agreements and the management of traffic rights, which represents a strategic impact on the air transport sector and on the companies operating in it.

For potential candidates, the opportunity cost of not applying on time is total: the free appointment system does not accept applications outside the established period, and the deadline of 10 calendar days is particularly tight in the middle of August.

Who does it affect?

• Career civil servants of subgroup A1 of the General State Administration who meet the specific requirements set out in annex I of the resolution.
• Managers and technicians of the Administration with experience in air transport policy, aeronautical regulations or international negotiation.
• Organizations and companies in the air sector that will be indirectly affected by the profile and orientation of the new holder of the position.
• Advisors and consultants who work with A1 civil servants of the Ministry of Transport and need to know about changes in the management structure.

Practical example

A career civil servant of subgroup A1 who currently holds a level 28 position in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation decides to apply for this call. He has proven experience in aeronautical regulations and has participated in bilateral negotiations on traffic rights.

Steps he must follow:

1. Access the Funciona portal with his electronic certificate before the 10 calendar day deadline from 27/07/2026 expires.
2. Prepare and attach his detailed curriculum vitae with the relevant merits for the position.
3. Write the justification of suitability oriented to the described functions: air policy, regulations, international negotiation and traffic rights management.
4. Complete the self-assessment questionnaire required in the process.
5. If he passes the previous phases, he presents himself to the interview before the panel of experts.

If selected, he would move from a destination allowance of level 28 to level 30, with a specific allowance of €30,436 and an appointment of up to 5 renewable years.

What should candidates do now?

1. Verify the requirements of annex I of the resolution to confirm eligibility before starting the application.
2. Calculate the exact deadline: the 10 calendar day period from 27/07/2026 expires approximately on 6 August 2026. No extension is provided.
3. Access the Funciona portal with a valid electronic certificate and complete the application within the deadline.
4. Prepare the documentation: curriculum vitae, justification of suitability oriented to the functions of the position (air policy, regulations, international negotiation, traffic rights) and self-assessment questionnaire.
5. Anticipate the interview: the process includes an interview before experts, so it is advisable to prepare solid arguments about suitability for the described functions.
6. Consult the complete resolution in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-16281) to verify all specific requirements of annex I.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-16281