The Complicated Skies Over Afghanistan: Navigating Flight Paths And Political Realities

Do flights go to Afghanistan? The short answer is yes, technically, but in reality, it's not that simple. Since the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021, Afghanistan's airspace has been closed to overflights, and all major international airlines have stopped using it for overflights. The country's aviation authority advised airlines to avoid its air corridors, prompting diversions. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has since relaxed rules to allow high-altitude flights over Afghanistan, but most airlines are still hesitant to cross Afghan airspace due to safety concerns and the presence of surface-to-air weaponry.

The FAA has allowed high-altitude flights over Afghanistan, but most airlines are still avoiding the country

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has allowed high-altitude flights over Afghanistan, but most airlines are still avoiding the country. This comes after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, which saw the US and its allies withdraw from the country and the collapse of its local security forces.

The FAA's new rules permit flights within Afghanistan's airspace at or above 32,000 feet (FL 320) to be safe for civil aviation operations. The decision was based on data analyzed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with assistance from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The FAA believes that flights at this altitude remain out of reach of anti-aircraft weapons, even if fired from a mountain top.

Despite the FAA's assurances, airlines are still hesitant to cross Afghan airspace due to safety concerns. The OPSGroup, an organization for the aviation industry, commented on the issue:

> "There's no ATC [air traffic control] service across the entire country, there's a seemingly endless list of surface-to-air weaponry they might start shooting at you if you fly too low, and if you have to divert, then good luck with the Taliban."

Airlines are concerned about the presence of surface-to-air weaponry in Afghanistan and the risk of militant fire. Afghanistan has been awash in aircraft-targeting missiles since the 1980s when the CIA armed mujahideen fighters to fight the Soviet Union. There are also concerns about the lack of air traffic control services, which could impact insurance for airlines flying over Afghan territory.

The avoidance of Afghan airspace has resulted in longer routes for flights between Asia and Europe or North America, causing increased fuel consumption and operational costs for airlines. However, some flights do briefly pass over the Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip of Afghan territory between Pakistan and Tajikistan, to avoid flying over Russia.

The possibility of overflights resuming would have a major impact on carriers, as Afghanistan sits along the most direct routes for those traveling from India to Europe and North America. The resumption of overflights could also be a significant source of revenue for Afghanistan, which charged each flight $700 in overflight fees before the Taliban takeover.

Afghanistan's aviation authority has advised airlines to avoid its air corridors

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has, however, relaxed rules to allow commercial flights over Afghanistan. The FAA has deemed flights above 32,000 feet safe, due to diminished risks to civil aviation operations at these altitudes. Despite this, airlines are still hesitant to cross Afghan airspace due to safety concerns. Carriers have expressed concern about the presence of surface-to-air weaponry in Afghanistan and the lack of air traffic control services. The OPS Group, an organisation for the aviation industry, commented:

> "There's no ATC [air traffic control] service across the entire country, there's a seemingly endless list of surface-to-air weaponry they might start shooting at you if you fly too low, and if you have to divert, then good luck with the Taliban."

Indeed, in the time since the Taliban takeover, airlines have largely curved around Afghanistan's borders, opting to fly south over Iran and Pakistan, or briefly through the sparsely populated Wakhan Corridor. These diversions add time and fuel costs to flights.

Prior to the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan's position along the most direct routes from India to Europe and the US meant that its airspace was heavily travelled. A November 2014 report from the International Civil Aviation Organization noted that overflights had grown to over 100,000 annually. Each flight was charged $700 in fees, providing a significant sum of cash for Afghanistan.

The US Federal Aviation Administration banned US operators from Afghanistan's airspace, except for airways P500 and G500

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned US operators from Afghanistan's airspace, except for airways P500 and G500. This decision comes in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and the subsequent withdrawal of US and allied forces from the country. The FAA's ban is an attempt to address the hazards faced by persons and aircraft engaged in flight operations due to violent extremist and militant activity and the lack of adequate risk mitigation capabilities to counter such activity.

The FAA's ban specifically prohibits US air carriers, commercial operators, and operators of US-registered civil aircraft from operating in the Kabul Flight Information Region (FIR) (OAKX) at altitudes below 32,000 feet. The ban does not apply to US military operations or US crews and aircraft operating for foreign airlines. Aircraft operating to and from the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul are also exempt from the ban, provided they follow certain restrictions such as minimising time spent within Afghan airspace below 26,000 feet and maintaining 5,000 feet above ground when not in contact with air traffic control.

The airways P500 and G500 are located in the far east of the OAKX/Kabul FIR, in a narrow strip of Afghan land called the Wakhan Corridor, which reaches into Tajikistan, Pakistan, and China. This corridor provides the most direct route for those travelling from India to Europe and North America. The FAA has deemed that flights at or above 32,000 feet in this region are safe and do not pose a threat to US civil aviation operations. However, airlines have expressed concerns about the safety of such operations, particularly regarding the presence of surface-to-air weaponry in Afghanistan.

Despite the FAA's ban and the safety concerns, some Afghan and Iranian carriers continue to operate within Afghanistan's airspace. The Taliban has also urged airlines to restore services to the country, insisting that the Kabul airport is fully operational for domestic and international flights. However, as of May 2024, it appears that no other airlines are taking the risk of flying over Afghanistan.

The FAA says flights at or above 32,000 feet are safe from Taliban weaponry

In 2023, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) relaxed rules to allow high-altitude flights over Afghanistan. However, despite the FAA's assurance that flights above 32,000 feet are safe from Taliban weaponry, airlines remain hesitant to cross Afghan airspace due to safety concerns.

Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, most airlines have avoided Afghan airspace. This has resulted in longer routes and increased fuel consumption for flights between Asia, Europe, and North America. The FAA's decision to allow flights above 32,000 feet is based on the diminished risks to civil aviation operations at those altitudes. The FAA believes that flights at or above 32,000 feet are out of reach of Taliban weaponry, even if fired from mountain tops.

Despite the FAA's assurance of safety, airlines remain cautious due to the presence of surface-to-air weaponry in Afghanistan. The OPS Group, an organization for the aviation industry, highlighted the risks of flying over Afghanistan:

> "There's no ATC [air traffic control] service across the entire country, there's a seemingly endless list of surface-to-air weaponry they might start shooting at you if you fly too low, and if you have to divert, then good luck with the Taliban."

The lack of air traffic control services and the potential risks of flying over a conflict zone have made airlines hesitant to take advantage of the shorter routes. Additionally, the risk of militant fire and the presence of aircraft-targeting missiles in Afghanistan further deter airlines from resuming flights over the country.

While the FAA's decision provides advantages in terms of reduced flight times and fuel consumption, the safety concerns outlined by the aviation industry and the absence of air traffic control services in Afghanistan continue to be significant factors in airlines' decisions to avoid Afghan airspace.

Overall, while the FAA asserts that flights at or above 32,000 feet are safe from Taliban weaponry, airlines remain cautious due to the complex safety and logistical considerations of flying over Afghanistan.

The Taliban claims to have earned $8.4 million from overflight fees in four months

Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2015, commercial flights have avoided the country's airspace. This has resulted in longer flight routes for airlines travelling between Asia, Europe, and North America, leading to increased fuel consumption and operational costs. Despite the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently allowing high-altitude flights over Afghanistan, safety concerns persist, particularly regarding the presence of surface-to-air weaponry.

However, the possibility of overflights resuming would have a significant impact on carriers. Afghanistan's central location in Asia means it is on the most direct routes for flights from India to Europe and America. Before the Taliban takeover, the Afghan government charged a $700 fee for each flight passing over the country, which could be a substantial sum considering the country's economic crisis.

The Taliban claims to have earned $8.4 million from overflight fees in the last four months, according to Imamuddin Ahmadi, a spokesman for the Transportation and Aviation Authority Ministry. Ahmadi stated that any flight crossing Afghan airspace should pay the $700 fee and that increased flights would benefit Afghanistan. However, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) contradicted these claims, stating that their contract with Afghanistan to collect overflight fees has been suspended since September 2021 due to international sanctions against the Taliban.

Despite the conflicting reports, the potential resumption of overflights and the associated fees could have a substantial impact on Afghanistan's economy and the aviation industry.

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