Afghanistan sees record high number of international flights passing through its airspace. Here's why

Kabul

As the crisis in West Asia is intensifying, the number of international flights passing through Afghan airspace saw a record high this week after Iran launched a massive missile attack against Israel, according to a report by The Independent on Saturday (Oct 5). 

The report said that on Thursday (Oct 3), a record 191 flights passed over Afghanistan, with airlines paying the country’s civil aviation ministry $700 per flight for the privilege. It added that these payments showed a growing revenue stream for the cash-strapped Taliban that rule Afghanistan.

Which airlines have returned to Afghan airspace?

The Independent report said that the international airlines which returned to Afghan airspace included British Airways, Lufthansa, and Swiss Air.

Citing data from FlightRadar24, the publication reported that an average of 147 flights per day travelled through Afghan airspace between September 19 and 30, not including journeys that started or finished in Afghanistan itself.

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The number went up to 171 on Tuesday when Iran launched 180 missiles against Israel. And on Friday, this number went up to 191, the report added.

Speaking to the publication, FlightRadar24’s spokesperson Ian Petchenik said, "We’re seeing aircraft that would normally transit through Iran make use of Afghanistan airspace now."

"As we start to see more and more airspace restrictions (in West Asia), airlines are making a trade-off or a calculated decision on risk – is this a safe method of operation? And is it safer than the alternative that still allows us to operate these flights?” Petchenik added.

Afghan airspace largely avoided by international flights after Taliban takeover

The Afghan airspace has been largely avoided by international flights since the Taliban took control of the country in August 2021.

But the number of flights has steadily gone up since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7 last year and the escalating conflict in the rest of West Asia.

The aftermath of Iran's missile attack on Israel

Following Iran's missile attack on Israel on Tuesday, Israel’s neighbours closed airspace and airline crews, with many looking for diversions. 

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Speaking to the news agency Reuters, a spokesperson from FlightRadar24 said that international flights diverted “anywhere they could,” and a snapshot of traffic in the region showed flights spreading in wide arcs to the north and south, with many converging on Cairo and Istanbul.

On Tuesday, about 80 flights, operated by the likes of Emirates, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Qatar Airways and bound for major Middle East hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, were diverted to places such as Cairo and European cities, its data showed.

(With inputs from agencies)