MOGADISHU, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Somali airspace has regained its Class A classification after more than 30 years, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) confirmed.
"The reclassification of the Mogadishu Flight Information Region (FIR) as 'Class A' airspace will significantly improve safety in the region and enhance efficiency," IATA's Regional Vice President for the Middle East and Africa, Kamil Al-Awadhi, said in a statement issued on Wednesday evening.
Al-Awadhi said the upgrade of air traffic management and improved navigation and communication infrastructure will enhance situational awareness along an increasingly busy air corridor and its intersections with routes linking many of the world's regions.
The reclassification of the airspace took effect on Thursday when air traffic control services were operationally restored after a 30-year disruption.
According to IATA, Class A airspace is the sky above the base altitude of about 24,500 feet above mean sea level.
All flights operating in Class A airspace must be cleared by air traffic control which is also responsible for maintaining lateral and vertical separation between aircraft, it said.
Some of the region's busiest airways - linking the African subcontinent south of Ethiopia with the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent as well as Western Europe with the Indian subcontinent and Indian Ocean islands - traverse Somali airspace, which is officially known as the Mogadishu FIR. ■