Conflict-Related NOTAM Growth Since 2019
The global Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) system has seen unprecedented growth since 2019. Total NOTAM volume increased 180%, driven primarily by conflict zones, GPS interference warnings, and drone-related restrictions. Conflict-specific NOTAMs have risen over 300%.
Annual NOTAM Volume
ICAO and national aviation authorities have issued increasingly large volumes of NOTAMs as geopolitical instability, drone activity, and military exercises have multiplied. The February 2022 closure of Ukrainian and Russian airspace alone generated thousands of persistent NOTAMs that remain active years later.
| Year | Total NOTAMs (est.) | Conflict-related | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1.6M | 42,000 | baseline |
| 2020 | 1.4M | 38,000 | -12% |
| 2021 | 1.8M | 51,000 | +29% |
| 2022 | 2.8M | 118,000 | +56% |
| 2023 | 3.2M | 134,000 | +14% |
| 2024 | 3.8M | 156,000 | +19% |
| 2025 | 4.2M | 168,000 | +11% |
Key Data Points
By Category
The fastest-growing NOTAM categories are conflict-zone restrictions, GPS interference warnings, and drone-related temporary airspace closures. Traditional NOTAMs (runway closures, navigation aid outages, airfield lighting) have grown modestly, while security and military-related NOTAMs have exploded.
Sources
- ICAO — Global NOTAM statistics, 2019-2025 annual reports
- Eurocontrol — Network Operations Report, NOTAM volume analysis
- FAA — NOTAM system usage statistics, 2019-2025
- OPSGROUP — Conflict zone NOTAM tracking database
Cite this data:
This page provides publicly available information about airspace conditions. Always consult official sources (ICAO, EASA, FAA) for operational decisions.