Syria saw nearly 12,000 flights cross its airspace in May after airlines rerouted flights in the region to avoid airspace affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Statistics from the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority show that 11,801 flights crossed Syrian airspace, more than double the 4,267 recorded in February, the last month before the Iran-Iraq War disrupted air traffic in the region.
The number of overflights in May was about 375 percent higher than in the same month last year.
Based on the fixed fee of $499 per flight imposed by the new Syrian government, Reuters calculations indicate that air traffic last month generated up to $5.9 million in revenue from crossing Syrian airspace.
The Syrian Civil Aviation Authority declined to comment on the potential revenue and the new fees.
Airlines were forced to reassess the situation in Syria after the US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran began on February 28. The ceasefire led to the reopening of airspace in April, but flight tracking services from Flightradar24 and AirNav indicate that the majority of flights bound for Europe from Dubai and Doha, two of the world's busiest aviation hubs, have since been flying over central Syria instead of Iraq.
Flying over Syria reduces flight times and fuel costs, as airlines try to mitigate the impact of soaring global oil prices caused by the disruptions related to the Iran-Iraq War.
Reuters
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