News
Gas ’n Go
March 1st 2019
Pakistan airspace closure saw longer routings or re-fuelling stops. Most airlines detoured south while Thai Airways tracked north into China and Russia. Read More »
Airspace improvements are in the category of two steps forward and one step back. While word awaits gains in North Korean airspace access, Asia-Europe and intra-Middle East flying saw unwelcome upsets after a Pakistan-India dispute created safety uncertainty and Pakistan closed its airspace.
Middle East airlines cancelled flights to Pakistan and Afghanistan. At the extreme, Thai Airways initially cancelled all of its European flying, impacting approximately 4,000 passengers, Suvarnabhumi Airport director Suthirawat Suwannawa told Reuters. EVA Air, which operates fifth freedom flights to Europe from Bangkok, had 900 passengers affected.
Airlines flying from other hubs did not have such problems. Flightradar24 showed British Airways and Finnair flights detoured south around Pakistan airspace while Singapore Airlines made unscheduled stops to re-fuel in Mumbai and Dubai. KLM refueled in Bucharest.
While most airlines appeared to opt to fly south of the affected area, when Thai Airways resumed its scheduled, it detoured north into China, passing nearby Urumqi, and then catching the Siberian route into Europe. Thai said it needed Chinese approval, hence the delay. EVA’s European flights from Bangkok, and European airlines flying from Bangkok, are taking the southern detour.
A shorter detour north of Pakistan but south of China would need to cross the Himalayas, where there can be additional onboard oxygen requirements. The area, around the Tibetan plateau, is sensitive politically.
Airlines flying from Northeast Asian hubs track over Siberia, so they are fine – aside from Russian over-flight fees.
