Why your flight to Asia silently depends on the South Caucasus

Aviation routes between Europe and Asia are being squeezed by closed Russian airspace, heightened risks in Iranian airspace, and spillover instability across the Middle East, according to an analysis citing KPMG. As global air travel is projected to roughly double by 2042, airlines are funnelling aircraft into fewer workable corridors, making the South Caucasus a critical passage. The article argues that daily operational coordination across Armenia and Azerbaijan—often overshadowed by conflict headlines—is what enables safe passenger and cargo flights. It also cites geopolitical disruption costing airlines an estimated $5 billion to $12 billion annually in direct operational impacts.