Airlines operating flights from East Asia to destinations in Europe are rerouting their aircraft away from Pakistan and northern India after the airspace was closed due to escalating tension between the two countries, following the shooting down of two Indian military jets.
Flights via Pakistan have been cancelled and other flights have been rerouted. Thai Airways is reported to have suspended all its flights destined for Europe due to the inability to establish alternative routes for its flights.
“By closing the airspace, every flight from Thailand to Europe has been affected. For flights that are going to depart this evening, we will call an urgent meeting to consider the impact of such events,” said Thai Airways president Sumeth Damrongchaitham.
Singapore Airlines and British Airways are among the operators which have had to reroute flights. Longer flight routes would make refuelling necessary, said SIA.
Pakistan International Airlines has warned that “flights may be affected due to closure of Pakistan commercial air space”.