What it means for Somalia to regain Class A classification of Airspace

MOGADISHU, (GO) - On Wednesday night, the International Air Transport Association [IATA] confirmed that the federal republic of Somalia had regained Class A classification of Airspace, three decades after relegation following a civil war that crippled services in the Horn of Africa nation. 

In a statement, IATA noted that Mogadishu Flight Information Region Airspace has been reclassified, ending over 30 years drought, an indication of positive trajectory in the Horn of Africa nation. Somalia has been fighting to revamp her internal institutions despite challenges across all spectrum. 

With Class A airspace, it now means Somalia's sky will be above 24,500 feet above mean sea level and all the flights emanating from the country ought to be cleared by air traffic control which is responsible for maintaining the correct separation of aircrafts when on air.

IATA said the move will significantly improve safety in the region and enhance efficiency. Already, reclassification has been effected  this morning, the most significant news in the Horn of Africa nation which has been in turmoil. 

For three decades, the control of international aircrafts operating in Somalia have been controlled from the neighboring Kenya, but in 2018, the government of Somalia transferred operations to Mogadishu without clearance. Somalia airspace had been classified as Class G, or uncontrolled airspace, for the last 30 years. 

“It [is] welcoming news. We will be celebrating,” said Ahmed Moallin Hassan, director general of Somali Civil Aviation Authority.

Hassan said Somalia Civil Aviation will be providing more services for pilots. He said that under Class G airspace designation, the aviation authority was providing advisory services to the pilots.

“But now since the airspace class has changed from uncontrolled airspace to controlled space, the service we are providing changed to air traffic control services. Now we will be instructing the pilots, and we will be using words like climb, descend, clear to land, clear for takeoff,” he said.

The latest progress, he added, will increase revenue for the country and Somalia can now rake in over $34 million annually. Currently, Somalia receives over 400 flights daily. 

“It means that the airspace has gone into significant change, it will increase revenue, job opportunity and overall safety of airspace will be enhanced,” he said. “That will attract international airlines that are currently avoiding Somali airspace."

For the last one year, the country has been improving infrastructure across all departments, with air transport being a priority. Air transport is the most preferred means of transport given insecurity problems mounted by the Al-Shabaab militants.

“The upgrade of air traffic management and improved navigation and communication infrastructure will enhance situational awareness along an increasingly busy air corridor and its intersections with routes linking many of the world’s regions,” said Kamil Al-Awadhi, who is the IATA’s regional vice president for the Middle East and Africa.

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