Lloyd Austin, Defense Secretary, has activated Civil Reserve Air Fleet and asked U.S. charter carriers and airlines to transport Afghan evacuees to other parts of the globe from Middle East and Europe.
The Pentagon released a statement saying that Austin called for the first stage mobilization by CRAF to provide airlift services. For a total of 18 aircraft, this stage requests a limited number of aircraft from American Airlines and Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines, Omni Air and Delta Air Lines.
Officials from the Defense said that CRAF-activated aircraft would not fly into Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul. They will be used to move passengers from temporary safe havens or interim staging bases. CRAF activation increases passenger movement beyond what is organic and allows military aircraft the freedom to concentrate on operations in and around Kabul.
DoD stated that it does not expect a significant impact on commercial flights as a result of this activation.
On Friday, airlines were requested to be ready to transport thousands of Kabulites who had been rescued by the Taliban since Aug. 15. The military has continued to evacuate approximately 7,000 Americans and their personnel and Special Immigrant Visa applicants from Afghanistan.
CRAF was activated by the latest mobilization for the third time ever since its creation after World War II. CRAF was created in 1951 to allow emergency authorization for commercial and charter aircraft to be used to supplement airlift and resupply missions. It was used in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm 1990 and again in 2003 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.
CRAF is activated by the U.S. Transportation Command and Defense Department. CRAF is a voluntary program that involves both the Department of Transportation and the airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration regulates commercial carriers to keep their civil status, while USTRANSCOM, the Pentagon's air component, Air Mobility Command, "exercises mission command via its air component," the Pentagon stated.
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Airlines for America, a trade group representing major U.S. airlines, told POLITICO on Saturday that it had been in contact with the administration regarding the matter.
A4A stated that U.S. carriers offered support as required over the past week and they remain in constant communication with U.S. government agency and officials to determine flight support requirements.
United stated that potential impacts on its flights are still being evaluated, but they expect to be minimal. Scott Kirby, United CEO, stated on Instagram that United is a global airline and flag carrier of the country.
American Airlines and Delta Air Lines did not have any additional comments or were unable to be reached at press time.
