Algeria Closes Its Skies: Air France Reroutes Amid Rising Tensions

Edited by: Aminata Diallo

Air France has discreetly recharted its flight paths to several African destinations, now avoiding Algerian airspace in favor of routes over Morocco and Mauritania. Data from Flightradar24 reveals that flight AF706 to Abidjan was rerouted as early as April 8, 2025—a change mirrored on routes to Lagos, Conakry, and others. Far from a technical adjustment, this move reflects mounting diplomatic friction: Algeria reportedly imposed airspace restrictions on French aircraft following a military incident involving a Malian drone earlier this spring.

The decision highlights a deeper rupture in Franco-Algerian relations, long strained by unresolved historical grievances and contemporary flashpoints—from migration policy to the Western Sahara conflict and lingering resentment over France’s nuclear legacy in Algeria. By rerouting, Air France ensures operational continuity and passenger safety while navigating an increasingly politicized airspace. The altered flight paths are more than logistical tweaks—they mark a quiet but telling escalation in geopolitical turbulence.