Air France, the French national carrier, has announced the suspension of flights to and from Bamako in Mali and Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, effective until August 11.
The decision to suspend these flights comes in response to Niger’s military rulers closing the country’s airspace due to the perceived “threat of intervention,” as reported by Reuters.
FlightRadar24, a flight tracking service, noted that the closure of Niger’s airspace significantly expands the airspace where commercial flights between Europe and southern Africa cannot fly.
Already, flights have been taking detours around Libya and Sudan, and with Niger’s airspace also off-limits, airlines operating between Europe and southern Africa will be forced to reroute, adding over 1000 kilometers or more to their flights. This additional distance will increase fuel consumption and flight time.
Air France spokesperson stated that the airline anticipates longer flight times from sub-Saharan hub airports, but flights between Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris and Accra in Ghana will continue to operate non-stop.
Also, Brussels Airlines spokesperson added that rerouted flights could experience an increase in flight time ranging from an hour and a half to three and a half hours, and may include a fuel stop.
As of now, passengers and airlines operating in the affected regions are urged to adjust their travel plans accordingly to accommodate the temporary suspension and the potential impact on flight schedules.