Niger airspace closure prompts air cargo diversions, cancellations

Carriers are diverting flights this week after coup leaders closed Niger’s airspace in anticipation of violence spurred by efforts to reinstate the country’s deposed president. The National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), the coalition of generals that ousted Niger President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, closed the country’s airspace Sunday after rejecting the Economic Community of West African States ’ call for CNSP to reinstate Bazoum or face military intervention. “In the face of the threat of intervention, which is becoming clearer through the preparation of neighboring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed … for all aircraft until further notice,” CNSP spokesperson Amadou Abdramane said in a statement Sunday. Diversions increase flight time, fuel needs The closure of Niger’s airspace has led several carriers to cancel and/or divert flights. Flights from Europe to South Africa and rerouted to avoid Niger’s airspace are, on average, taking an hour longer to reach their destinations as they traverse an additional 1,000 miles, according to tracking website FlightRadar24 . This is further exacerbated by airspace restrictions over Sudan and Libya, which border Niger. Carriers need extra time to reach their destinations and require extra fuel , which increases costs. [caption id="attachment_57137596" align="alignnone" width="1024"] FlightRadar24 reds out Niger, Sudan and Libya — all of which have restricted airspace — and shows the route alterations carriers are making. (Photo/FlightRadar24)[/caption] While no Lufthansa Cargo freighters have felt the impact thus far, spokesperson Katharina Wambach told Air Cargo Next that Lufthansa Cargo belly capacities on passenger aircraft have been affected. As such, Lufthansa Cargo is in close communication with Brussels Airlines , another Lufthansa Group member, she said. Brussels Airlines spokesperson Joelle Neeb told Air Cargo Next that, as a precaution, the carrier has placed an embargo on shipments to N’djili International Airport (FIH) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Once fuel stops for Central African flights are in place, cargo restrictions will be lifted, she said. “That is the long-term plan for cargo,” Neeb said. Neeb said that 12 of the carrier’s 17 sub-Saharan Africa destinations have been affected by the airspace closure, with flight times increased from 60 minutes to 90 minutes and some flights adding fuel stops. Brussels Airlines is doing a “daily calculation of fuel requirements based on flight extension,” Neeb said. “Load may need to be optimized, which may have an impact on cargo volume.” While cargo scheduled for transport today has been transported, Neeb said, the carrier continues to evaluate the situation daily. “Due to the ongoing military coup in Niger, the airspace remains closed indefinitely," Wambach said. “As it is a key corridor for flights to and from Central and East Africa, the affected airlines are considering options to fly around this corridor. This primarily affects destinations in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.” Carriers adjust operations Carriers operated by International Airlines Group are also among those affected by the airspace restrictions. A British Airways spokesperson told Air Cargo Next that “ a handful of flights that normally operate over Africa have been disrupted by the closure.” IAG Cargo did not share details on canceled and/or diverted routes but confirmed that flights are being affected. “We are in touch with customers affected by this disruption and are supporting them to find solutions where required,” an IAG Cargo spokesperson told Air Cargo Next . “We will continue to monitor the situation closely.” Air France-KLM also confirmed flight diversions to Air Cargo Next but did not provide more information. Join Air Cargo Next for its second annual Air Cargo Tech Summit on Sept. 18-19 in Brussels, sponsored by Unisys and Brussels Airport and featuring a fireside chat with Brian Hodges, managing director, American Airlines Cargo. For more details and to register, click here .

Niger airspace closure prompts air cargo diversions, cancellations

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