Taliban Claims Over Hundred Airplanes Cross Afghanistan’s Airspace Daily

The Taliban's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation reported that 100-120 airplanes pass through Afghan airspace daily.

The ministry stated that it charges a transit fee of USD 700 per airplane.

This is in contrast to the last years of the previous government, when around 400 airplanes passed through Afghan airspace daily.

On Wednesday, June 19, Imamuddin Ahmadi, Taliban’s spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport, told Taliban controlled Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) that international flights are conducted daily from the country's five international airports with "international standards”.

This Taliban official also mentioned that Nangarhar Airport, which was used as a military airport during the previous government, is now open for international flights.

The Taliban claim that there are 27 active airports across Afghanistan, including five international airports.

In August 2023, the group announced that over 25,000 transit flights had been conducted through Afghan airspace in the past year, generating 8 billion Afghanis in revenue.

Qasim Wafaeezada, the head of the Civil Aviation Authority during the previous government, said in 2020 that around 400 airplanes pass through Afghan airspace daily. This office had stated that over 95,000 airplanes passed through Afghan airspace annually.

Following the Taliban’s takeover of power in Afghanistan, most international airlines changed their routes and halted flights to Afghanistan.

Nearly three years later, some regional airlines have resumed their flights from Afghanistan.