Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – International airlines are increasingly diverting flights through Afghan airspace, now seen as one of the safest routes in the region following Iran’s missile attacks on Israel. This shift has caused a surge in flights passing over Afghanistan, benefiting the Taliban-controlled government financially.
A record 191 flights crossed Afghan airspace on Thursday, with each airline paying $700 per flight to the Taliban’s civil aviation ministry, generating significant revenue for the regime. This marks a sharp increase since Iran launched over 200 missiles at Israel earlier this week, forcing airlines to reroute away from Iranian airspace.
Once considered too dangerous for international flights after the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, Afghan airspace has seen a resurgence in traffic due to safety concerns in neighboring regions. Airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines are now opting for Afghan airspace, as flights cruising at altitudes above 32,000 feet are considered out of range of surface-to-air missiles in Afghanistan.
As airlines continue to assess the risks of flying over conflict zones, the Taliban’s airspace control has become a vital economic lifeline for their struggling regime, potentially generating up to $50 million annually.
This comes as tensions escalate across the Middle East, further reshaping global flight patterns.
