Airspace Over Somalia (Mogadishu FIR) Restored To ‘Class A’ After 30 Years.

The airspace over Somalia and the surrounding region – Mogadishu Flight Information Region (FIR) was reclassified to Class A, starting one-minute past midnight on January 26, 2023 (local time). IATA noted the restoration following a 30-year disruption – and highlighted some of the region’s busiest airways – linking the African subcontinent south of Ethiopia with the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent as well as Western Europe with the Indian subcontinent and Indian Ocean islands – traverse Somalian airspace.

All flights operating in Class A airspace must be cleared by air traffic control which is also responsible for maintaining lateral and vertical separation between aircraft. In the Mogadishu FIR, Class A airspace is the sky above the base altitude of approximately 24,500 feet above mean sea level.

“…[The reclassification] will significantly improve safety in the region and enhance efficiency. This is thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Somalia Airspace Special Coordination Team, comprising the Somali CAA, IATA, the International Civil Aviation Organization, adjacent FIRs and airlines.”

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-Kamil Al-Awadhi, Regional VP for the Middle East and Africa, IATA.