Flyover rights

Airline flyovers are made by various airlines over specific countries who have granted them formal permission to do so on a continuing basis. Some countries levy fees for this permission. [cite book | author = Mulrine, Anna |title = Targeting the Enemy | publisher = US News and World Report | year = June 9, 2008]

Rights can be looked at from two perspectives. From the grantor - A large nation geographically difficult to avoid on a commercial route can require large fees for this right.

The grantee must be on good terms with the grantor. On occasion, the grantor must approve of the use made of the airspace. For example, the grantor might take the opportunity to express disapproval of a requestor's attempt to make war, denying them use of their airspace for that purpose.

Modern history

In 1986, France and Spain denied the United States permission to overfly their respective airspaces in order to bomb Libya.

In 2008, Russia temporarily denied Lufthansa permission to overfly its airspace with cargo. [http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,515032,00.html Russia 'Blackmails' Lufthansa over Cargo Hubs] retrieved June 5, 2008]

Europe pays Russia €300 million a year for flyover permissions for its airlines. [http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,515032,00.html Russia 'Blackmails' Lufthansa over Cargo Hubs] retrieved June 5, 2008] Europe has made the dropping of fees an official pre-condition for Russian membership in the World Trade Organization.

Footnotes