Quantcast

Airlines face challenges from GPS jamming and restricted airspaces

Spirit Airlines Pursues Bankruptcy as a Path to Tie-Up With Frontier
American Airlines fined $50M for violating disability laws
Canada's flight attendant union applauds NDP bill to end unpaid work in the airline sector
American Airlines testing new technology that would crack down on boarding
Another city ignores airport commission's advice, zones for housing near JWA
United shares hit pre-pandemic high after airline forecasts strong finish to 2024, plans buyback
Alaska Airlines Just Made Its Loyalty Program Even More Lucrative With New Rewards, Better Upgrades, and More
Food safety problem closes Detroit airline kitchen leaving 200 flights without meals
5 Reasons Why Kazakhstan's Air Astana Is Establishing Itself As A Key Player In Asian Aviation
JetBlue is no longer serving hot food in economy class on transatlantic flights
Video shows traveler hurl computer monitor at Frontier employees in Chicago
White House 'in touch' with airlines as hurricanes Helene, Milton spark price-gouging fears
Airline bans two items from luggage amid conflict in the Middle East
Turkish Airlines pilot dies midflight, leading to emergency landing in New York
Spirit Airlines Explores Bankruptcy Filing
Airlines turn to AI to allocate gates and cut waiting times
American Airlines Passengers Save Woman from Alleged Violent Male Companion on Flight
Garuda Indonesia and Japan Airlines (JAL) Form Joint Business Agreement — What To Know
Here's how Southwest Airlines' new seating and boarding process will work
Delta Adds New Route to Asia
Southwest Airlines will begin selling assigned seats in 2025
United Airlines Pilot Buys Passengers Pizza In Albuquerque After Flight Was Delayed 7 Hours
Czech Airlines to Cease Operations, Ending 23-Year SkyTeam Partnership
An Asian airline hopes launching one of the world's longest narrowbody routes will actually be a comfort upgrade for passengers
Airlines begin canceling flights, offering rebooking ahead of Hurricane Helene
Southwest Airlines to cut service and staffing in Atlanta to slash costs
New heights, new features: Discover Alaska’s enhanced Flight Pass subscription service
Alaska Airlines completes acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, expanding benefits and choice for travelers
American Airlines welcomes JetSMART to the award-winning AAdvantage program
Explore Japan for free? Japan Airlines offers free domestic flights to foreign travelers
Airlines face challenges from GPS jamming and restricted airspaces
Policy
Webp globalair
Global air transport | Global Air

Global air transport relies on the collaboration of various stakeholders, including airport operators, governments, and military entities. Each country is responsible for managing its own airspace, which includes areas above both land and sea. Pilots use GPS to navigate efficiently through different airspaces, allowing for direct routes and reduced flight times.

However, airspace closures and GPS jamming have increasingly impacted airline operations. Military authorities or national governments may close airspace to ensure safety, causing airlines to delay or cancel flights. If not flying directly to a destination within closed airspace, airlines must reroute flights, leading to longer travel times and increased fuel consumption.

Airspace can be closed for reasons such as military exercises, natural disasters, conflicts, or high-profile events. These closures affect the flow of goods and humanitarian efforts provided by nonprofit organizations through their airline partners.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

For instance, restrictions over Russian airspace have significantly impacted Western carriers. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia closed its airspace to most European and North American operators in response to sanctions. This forced some flights from Europe to Asia to reroute via Central Asia.

"Naturally, this extends the flight by 30-40 minutes one way and entails additional costs for the company," said Uzbekistan Airways CEO Shukhrat Khudaikulov regarding altered routes due to Russian restrictions.

Conflicts in regions like the Middle East have also led to multiple airspace restrictions. Increased tensions have affected busy corridors in the area, with countries like Jordan closing their airspace following missile launches by Iran.

In Africa, military coups and civil unrest led to several airspace closures in 2023. The closure of Niger's airspace added challenges for airlines operating between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.

Apart from enforced closures, some regions are voluntarily avoided by airlines due to risks such as high terrain or turbulence. For example, airlines avoid flying over Tibet despite open airspace due to its mountainous landscape.

GPS interference poses another challenge for pilots who rely heavily on it for navigation. Intentional jamming has increased worldwide due to geopolitical tensions. Several incidents have been reported near Eastern Europe bordering Russia where airlines experienced GPS signal disruptions.

GPS spoofing involves transmitting signals that mislead aircraft about their position or time. It is a serious risk as it can cause aircraft deviations from intended routes. OPSGROUP reported a significant increase in spoofing incidents last year affecting daily flights.

Despite these challenges, many aircraft are equipped with redundant systems and pilots are trained to manage risks associated with GPS jamming and spoofing effectively.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

UPS has operated one of the longest direct air cargo routes in the United States since 2018, connecting Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) in Kentucky with Dubai International Airport (DXB) in the United Arab Emirates.

Aug 2, 2025

The Boeing 737 MAX 10 is the largest version of the 737 family, designed to compete with the Airbus A321neo.

Aug 2, 2025

Russian airline Aeroflot reported significant flight disruptions on Monday, July 28, due to a failure in its information systems.

Aug 2, 2025

After more than four years, American Airlines will reintroduce its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft on the New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) route starting October 6.

Aug 2, 2025

The Airbus A321XLR, which entered service in late 2024, is now the longest-range narrowbody aircraft available.

Aug 2, 2025

The Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 are the only commercial jetliners with a partial or full second passenger deck, and both have left a significant mark on aviation history.

Aug 2, 2025