When conflict erupted in the Middle East in 2026, the consequences were felt far beyond the region. One was the disruption to Gulf airspace. The ripple effects hit the global aviation network, including Africa.
Airlines have been forced to reroute flights and there’s been a spike in operating costs, delayed cargo and disrupted passenger travel. For Africa, the crisis has exposed a weakness that has existed for decades: dependence on external transit hubs for international and even intra-African connectivity.
