Air France Extends Suspension of Flights to Mali and Burkina Faso

The French airline has extended “until August 18 inclusive” the suspension of its flights to Mali and Burkina Faso.

The French airline will not connect the capitals of Bamako and of Ouagadougou before August 18 inclusive, “following the coup in Niger and due to the geopolitical situation in the Sahel region”she said on Friday.

The closure of Niger’s airspace is forcing companies to make large detours to reach Europe, lengthening flight times. Air France says to be in liaison with the French authorities ” pursue ” permanently the evolution of the geopolitical situation of the territories served and overflown by its aircraft and recalls that the safety of its customers and crews is its top priority.

To note that, Air France is the main operator between Europe and Africa with 33 destinations and more than 3 million passengers per year (excluding North Africa). In total, more than half of the Sahelian airspace is thus closed to commercial flights, which forces companies to use either the Red Sea to the East, or by that of theWest Africa a you Moroccoat the cost of delays and additional costs.

Extended flight time

Lefigaro points out that the closure of Niger’s airspace is forcing companies to make big detours to reach Europe, extending the flight time. Air France says to be “in contact with the French authorities” pursue “permanently changing the geopolitical situation of the territories served and overflown by its aircraft” and remember that “the safety of its customers and its crews is its top priority”.

This closure comes on top of a swath of African airspace facing geopolitical disruptions, including Libya and at Sudanwith some flights having to make detours of up to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).