By Banafsha Binesh in ToloNews online, July 29, 2023 at 7:47 PM
The Economic Times reported that in the coming weeks the travel time between the East, including India, and the West will be significantly reduced, especially after key aviation regulators will allow commercial aircraft to resume flying over Afghanistan.
According to the Economic Times, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted permission to American airliners to fly over the Kabul Flight Information Region (FIR) at altitudes exceeding 32,000 feet.
“The first benefit for Afghanistan is that it once again connects with all Europe and all other countries which in fact creates credibility. Second, it earns revenue,” said Sayed Masoud, an economist.
This decision comes as the FAA has assessed reduced risks to US civil aviation operations at higher altitudes in the region, the report said, adding that the move aligns with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) directive to its member state airlines, urging them not to fly below 32,000 feet due to ongoing potential threats to civil aviation and high operational risks at lower altitudes.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transportation and Aviation Authority said that efforts are underway to attract more airlines to use Afghan air space.
Imamuddin Ahmadi, a spokesman for the ministry, said that it has earned more than $8.4 million in revenue from the use Afghan airspace within the past four months.
“Any flight which is crossing the Afghan airspace should pay $700. As the flights increase, it benefits Afghanistan,” he said.
Meanwhile, an official of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Khanjan Alokozai, called for an improvement of diplomatic efforts to pave the way for an increase in flights over Afghanistan.
“The Ministry of Transportation and Aviation Authority and the Islamic Emirate should try to convince the world countries to fly their airlines through our airspace,” he said.
After the Islamic Emirate came to power, many airline companies stopped using Afghan airspace.
The Ministry of Transportation and Aviation Authority said that the Afghan airspace is safe and opened for the airlines.
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184405
