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Niger reopens airspace to commercial flights

The military junta in Niger (Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie - CNSP) reopened the country's airspace on September 3, 2023, nearly a month after all flights to, from, and over the country were banned.

NOTAM A1096/23 announcing the reopening of the airspace to all civilian flights went into effect at 2218Z on September 3. The authorities simultaneously resumed the provision of ground services. However, the airspace remains closed to all military and special mission flights, which require individual authorisations from the junta.

Nigerien airspace was closed to all traffic on August 6, 2023, shortly after the CNSP overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, prompting Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member states to threaten an invasion to restore Bazoum. Since then, only a limited number of flights authorised by the junta have been permitted to land at Niamey, including services by Air Burkina (2J, Ouagadougou) (Burkina Faso being an ally of the junta) and Air Algérie (AH, Algiers).

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Niger closes airspace as ECOWAS showdown looms

The self-styled National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland closed Niger's airspace to all civilian flights on the evening of August 7.

According to a NOTAM, the closure went into effect at 2322L (2222Z) on August 6 and will remain in place indefinitely. In addition, all major airports in the country - Niamey, Zinder, Agadez, Tahoua, and Maradi - have also been closed to all traffic.

The decision was announced after the junta rejected an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ultimatum, which threatened military intervention if deposed President Mohamed Bazoum was not reinstated.

The closure of the airspace has forced international carriers to adjust their flight paths. An Air France (AF, Paris CDG) flights from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo and Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta were diverted to Abidjan, while its service from Libreville returned to Gabon. The carrier also cancelled departures from Lagos, Abidjan, and Yaoundé Nsimalen. The airline has suspended flights to Niamey until further notice and to neighbouring capitals Ouagadougou...