Swiss Report: Taliban Earn More Than 70 Million Dollars Annually from Afghan Overflights

A report from Swiss Info has found that the Taliban are receiving more than 70 million dollars in annual revenue from international flights overflying Afghanistan.

The Swiss report indicates that around 2,000 flights now traverse Afghan airspace weekly, which is five times more than the number from last year. This significant increase is due to airlines avoiding routes affected by the war in Ukraine and ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Each aircraft is charged a flat fee of roughly 700 dollars for crossing Afghan territory. This results in approximately 1.4 million dollars collected each week, totaling over 70 million dollars per year.

The fee structure is a fixed rate per flight rather than being based on the weight of the aircraft or the distance flown, which differs from standard international aviation practices.

Additionally, the report points out that Afghanistan lacks a comprehensive air traffic control system. Pilots are therefore required to communicate directly with one another to manage their positions, altitudes, and speeds, thereby assuming much of the responsibility for flight safety.

With these changes, Afghan airspace has become a crucial link for air travel between Europe and Asia. However, the absence of advanced navigation support has raised concerns, and some airlines have modified their schedules or canceled flights to certain destinations in response to the evolving security and logistical landscape.

The development underscores how geopolitical conflicts are reshaping global aviation routes, with Afghanistan emerging as an unintended beneficiary through increased transit fees.