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Asia airlines operating through Afghanistan’s airspace could face legal and financial risks
March 7th 2025
Airlines are turning to a network of third parties to pay fees to Afghanistan authorities as more carriers use the country’s airspace, but the practice risks legal disputes and money laundering, according to pilots, aviation executives and lawyers, a Reuters report states. Read More » Last year many airlines, including Asian carriers flying to Europe, operated through Afghanistan airspace after the Middle East conflict widened and aviation regulators softened their stance on using Afghanistan’s airspace. As a result, the country’s government is experiencing a surge in over flight payments. However, the process of making payments to the Taliban-run aviation authorities is complicated because the government’s overseas bank accounts are frozen and its Taliban leadership operates under global sanctions. The International Air Transport Association can no longer collect money on behalf of Afghanistan’s aviation authority so airlines have turned to third-party intermediaries, known as trip support firms, to process payments. Asia-Pacific carriers using Afghanistan airspace include Singapore Airlines, China Airlines, EVA Airways, Air India and Vietnam Airlines.
