Algeria's Closed Airspace Delays French Military Aviation
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A website specialized in tracking flights reveals that Algeria's closure of its airspace to French aircraft will increase the length of its flights to the African Sahel region - twice as long.
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The French military aircraft will have to fly nearly twice the length of its original route to reach its destination in Chad.
ItaMilRadar.com, which specializes in tracking flights, pointed out the consequences of the Algerian ban on French military aviation from entering its airspace.
On Sunday, the website reported that the French Air Force is operating flights beyond the Algerian airspace while on their way to the African Sahel region.
ItaMilRadar added that the French military aviation's route from the Istres-Le-Tube air base, northwest of Marseille in southern France, to Chad's capital, N'Djamena, will pass through the Atlantic Ocean, Mauritania, Mali, and Niger.
This is nearly twice the length of the original route through Algerian airspace.
The first plane to suffer the consequences of this decision was a FAF A330MRTT departed Istres AB this morning
— ItaMilRadar (@ItaMilRadar) October 3, 2021
(via @CotamFleet) https://t.co/O1sOIVi22Q
Yesterday, a spokesperson for the French armed forces confirmed that Algeria had closed its airspace to French military aircraft.
Algeria's decision followed statements by French President Emmanuel Macron, which Algeria considered "irresponsible."
In addition, Algeria also summoned its ambassador in Paris for consultation, according to the Algerian presidency.
