IATA Supports Avoidance of Afghan Airspace by Airlines

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that it supports the decision of airlines to avoid the airspace of Afghanistan in the interim.
The global body said safe and secure flight operations are the top priority for aviation, adding that it is closely monitoring developments in the country.

“Owing to recent developments, the Kabul FIR (Afghanistan airspace), which serves major traffic flows between Europe and Asia, is now without provision of a civilian Air Traffic Service. Airlines have advised IATA that they are avoiding the airspace,” IATA said.

IATA said it is participating in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Coordinated Contingency Coordination Team (CCT), which has been activated.

This standard protocol for managing such situations combines the resources of ICAO and IATA in the regions involved, all affected States, and Eurocontrol.
Traffic through Afghan airspace is lower than usual because of reduced demand due to COVID-19. States near Afghanistan have indicated they can accommodate additional traffic. The use of alternative routes through these states will support safe and secure operations, but will have time, operational and fuel impacts upon airlines.

Airlines normally using Afghan airspace and IATA are maintaining constant coordination and communication through the standard contingency protocols and sharing information via the IATA Global Tactical Operations Portal (ITOP).
Meanwhile, Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport has reopened on a limited basis, according to reports. The civilian side of the airport had been closed until further notice after it was breached by desperate Afghans seeking to escape the country as the Taliban claimed control of the country’s capital last weekend.