A token-based air traffic management paradigm is presented that enables the de-coupling of: (1) the air traffic control system (ATCS) task to maintain safety; and (2) airline operational center (AOC) goal to choose optimal flight paths. Under the token-based paradigm, each local area (sector) issues tokens that permit entry to that region of space over an assigned period of time. The number of tokens is limited by the ATCS to guarantee admission and safe passage to the destination point in the sector within a pre-specified time-interval. The token-based paradigm allows AOCs to freely trade the tokens between different aircraft and to choose desirable flight paths by choosing the sequences of sectors (as long as the AOC can procure the needed tokens). Although, the aircraft is forced to fly along established routes in each sector, the flexibility in choice of sectors may meet the AOC's needs for freedom.