Taliban revenue Soars as Airspace Becomes Unexpected Economic Lifeline
Despite ongoing economic hardship and limited international recognition, the Taliban are generating meaningful revenue through control of Afghan airspace, benefiting from a resurgence in air traffic. While concerns about security lingered after the Taliban takeover, air travel over and to Afghanistan has largely returned to normal, creating a surprising financial boon for the regime.
According to aerfinal consultant Xavier Tytelman, “There is no soil-to-air risk in Afghanistan.” He notes the normalization of air traffic, with daily flights landing in Kabul. Airlines like Turkish Airlines, Flydubai, and Airarabia currently serve the Afghan capital on an almost daily basis. Furthermore, major international carriers including Singapore Airlines, Air france, Aeroflot, and Swiss Air are utilizing Afghan airspace over cities like Kabul, Mazar-E-Sharif, and Kandahar, indicating a perceived level of air safety.
However, maintaining operational capacity presents challenges. Tytelman points to the difficulty of sourcing spare parts for aircraft due to limited imports, potentially complicating emergency landings. He also raises concerns about airspace capacity, noting a significant increase in daily flights from 50 to 280, potentially straining the Taliban’s air traffic control infrastructure. the question arises whether the Taliban will eventually be forced to limit flights due to capacity issues and the state of their control systems.
for the Taliban, whose government is officially recognized only by Russia, the revenue generated from airspace access is a crucial source of income amidst a severe economic crisis, exacerbated by frozen Afghan assets and international sanctions.
Industry sources, speaking anonymously, reveal that Kabul receives royalties from airlines through intermediaries, notably Emirati company Gaac Holding, which manages Afghan airports. Many airlines contacted by AFP declined to comment on payment procedures, citing caution about associating with the Taliban regime.
While no formal prohibition exists for companies to trade with Afghanistan – US sanctions target specific Taliban officials – some businesses are hesitant due to reputational concerns. Suleiman Ben Shah, former deputy minister for industry and trade, estimates the annual revenue from these royalties to be “tens of millions of euros.”
Afghan aviation officials have declined to provide specific details regarding the amount of fees collected or the mechanisms involved. However, Ben Shah emphasizes the strategic importance of this revenue stream, stating that control of airspace “strengthens the stranglehold (of the government) on the sovereign functions of the State and strengthens its image of operational authority, even without (broad) international recognition.”
In essence,the resumption of air travel,driven by global connectivity needs,has inadvertently provided a significant financial lifeline to the Taliban,bolstering their control and offering a rare source of economic stability in a nation grappling with profound challenges.
