Fearing a “foreign aggression,” the Nigerien authorities have decided to close the country’s airspace until further notice. This decision has created difficulties for European airlines, particularly Air France, which regularly operates flights over Niger’s airspace.
Until August 11, Air France flights to and from Niamey, as well as flights to Bamako and Ouagadougou, have been suspended. The airline was forced to make this decision due to the closure of Niger’s airspace amid the ongoing crisis in the country.
Air France is not the only airline affected by the decision of the Nigerien junta. Other European airlines are also facing challenges. According to Le Figaro, “Air Belgium’s flight from Brussels to Johannesburg changed course, while Turkish Airlines’ flight from Lagos to Istanbul was rerouted to the west of Niger. British Airways, Lufthansa, Swiss, and Virgin are also changing their flight routes.”
The National Council for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) has not specified a timeframe for lifting the closure of Niger’s airspace. This uncertainty is forcing airlines to devise alternative plans to manage the crisis in the long term.
