Airspace Closure in Africa Forces British Airways to Divert Flights and Face Budget Aid Suspension
Two British Airways A380s were forced to return to their origin airports due to the closure of Niger airspace amid a political coup. One A380 flew from Johannesburg to Johannesburg for over 10 hours, while the other flew from London to London for over 8 hours. The decision to return was made due to safety concerns and the lack of nearby airports equipped to handle the A380. The closures have had significant impacts on airlines operating between Europe and Africa.