Afghanistan: How long will Kabul Airport be able to operate? | DW News

Afghans scramble to the Kabul airport, which is being secured by the Americans. The airport is the only way out for now as the Taliban encircled the capital. Commercial flights from Kabul were canceled Monday as Afghanistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (ACAA) announced Kabul airspace had been released to the military. On its website, the ACAA announced the “civilian side of Hamid Karzai International Airport (Kabul airport) is closed until further notice.“ Civilian aircraft over Afghanistan were advised to reroute because any transit through Kabul-controlled airspace, which includes all of Afghanistan, was likely to be uncontrolled. In a message to reporters, the Kabul airport authority announced, “There will be no commercial flights from Hamid Karzai Airport to prevent looting and plundering. Please do not rush to the airport.“ Lufthansa said all its flights would reroute to avoid Afghan airspace starting Monday. Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 showed commercial flights