Foreign airlines avoid Pak airspace, reroute India flights

While US carriers American and United cancelled their Tuesday departures to Delhi, other aircraft from West Asia and Europe that were already enroute to India diverted to other airports due to tensions in the region.
| Photo Credit:
FABRIZIO BENSCH

Foreign airlines are making adjustments to their India operations following early morning retaliatory strikes against terror bases in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

“Due to the evolving situation in South Asia and resulting airspace limitations, United has cancelled our flight to New Delhi today. We will continue to monitor the situation and make decisions on upcoming flights as more information becomes available, “ United said in a statement.

On Wednesday the authorities ordered suspension of commercial flights at over 20 airports. A traffic route known as L-639 which caters to traffic from Nagpur to Oman via Ahmedabad region was also closed for airlines due to its proximity to Pakistan. Consequently several airlines transiting India or flying West bound from Delhi are taking routes closer to Mumbai.

Finnair said it’s flight between Helsinki and Delhi had to divert to Baku for refuelling before continuing it’s onward journey to Delhi.

“We will fly our flight to Delhi normally today,” Finnair said.

“The situation all together will impact our Delhi, Bangkok, and Singapore flights. Flight time to Delhi will increase approximately 1.5 hours. In addition, flights to Singapore will be extended by 15-30 minutes and flights to Bangkok by 30-90 minutes, depending on the direction of flight and other conditions, such as winds,” it added.

Similarly KLM flights from Amsterdam to Delhi and Mumbai too are taking 60-75 minutes longer than usual. KLM said it has not cancelled any flights to India.