Air France planes at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport near Paris, April 26, 2023 (AFP/Archives/JULIEN DE ROSA)
Air France has extended “until September 10 inclusive” the suspension of its flights to and from Mali and Burkina Faso, with flights to Niger remaining stopped “until further notice”, a spokeswoman said on Thursday. .
The French company, the main airline between Europe and Africa, suspended its flights to Bamako (7 flights per week), Ouagadougou (5 flights per week) and Niamey (4 flights per week) on August 7. after the closure of Niger’s airspace, the scene of a coup d’etat on 26 July.
Air France has already extended this suspension twice “following the coup in Niger and because of the geopolitical situation in the Sahel region”.
In retaliation, the authorities of Mali, whose military leaders are in solidarity with the Nigerien putschists, canceled Air France’s authorization to operate between Paris and Bamako, citing a “notorious breach” of the terms of its operating authorization.
This cancellation is valid for the entire summer season, which extends until October, and the Malian National Civil Aviation Agency has threatened Air France to give up its slots “to another company which would request it”.
© 2023 AFP
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