Niger bans French carriers, aircraft from its airspace

The ruling military junta in Niger has banned all French airlines and France-registered aircraft from operating in its airspace as a dispute with its former coloniser escalates. France has since pulled its ambassador from the Sahel state. NOTAM A1096/23, issued on September 23, 2023, bans "French aircraft or aircraft chartered by France, including those of the airline of Air France" from entering Nigerien airspace, including for overflights. All other commercial flights are permitted, while military and special flights need prior authorisation. Air France suspended service to Niamey in early August, shortly after the coup d'êtat in Niger. It simultaneously halted flights to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso and Bamako in Mali, two countries which support the Nigerien junta. All three routes remain on hold. Nigerien airspace was closed to all airlines until September 3. Air France confirmed that its flights to Accra and Johannesburg O.R. Tambo will be most affected by the need to, once again, bypass the Niamey Flight Information Region.<br/>