European carriers faced disruptions and suspended flights across the African continent as Niger’s junta closed its airspace on Sunday. This move came after the junta disregarded a deadline set by the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, to reinstate the ousted president or face possible military intervention.
The closure of Niger’s airspace has significant implications for commercial flights between Europe and southern Africa, leading to longer flight times and detours of up to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). Air France, for instance, suspended flights to and from Burkina Faso and Mali until August 11, anticipating longer flight times in the West African region. Meanwhile, some flights between Europe and Africa are set to operate non-stop.
Aviation analyst James Halstead believes that while airlines may face challenges in finding alternative routes, the impact should be limited, considering the relatively small number of African air connections.
“I’m not sure this is huge disruption … it will affect routes from Europe to Nigeria and South Africa and probably from the Gulf of the Ethiopia to West Africa,” he said.
Spokespeople for Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines acknowledged that rerouted flights could experience extended flight times, ranging from one-and-a-half to three-and-a-half hours longer. British Airways expressed regret for the disruptions caused and assured affected customers that they were working diligently to get them back on track as quickly as possible.
The situation highlights the geopolitical disruptions affecting African airspace, with countries like Libya and Sudan also experiencing challenges in air travel routes. However, the closure of Niger’s airspace amplifies the extent of this issue, affecting commercial flights between Europe and southern Africa.
The response from ECOWAS, with their threat of military intervention, appears to have prompted the Junta’s decision to close the airspace. It raises the question of whether dialogue could be a more viable option to alleviate tensions and address the situation in a less controversial manner.
