International Airlines Avoid Afghan Airspace

Major international airlines are avoiding the Afghanistan airspace. These airlines are re-routing their flights to India and are operating via alternative routes.

Among the carriers that have already decided to avoid the sensitive route for their operations are British Airways, Air France, SAS (Scandinavian Airlines Systems) and Lufthansa.

British Airways has suspended all its flights to Pakistan till further notice.

The British carrier had been flying over Afghanistan en route to Pakistan. It, however, does not fly over Afghanistan to reach India. So its flights to India remain unchanged.

The Air France Delhi-Paris flight on Wednesday flew via Iran. When contacted, a Lufthansa spokesperson told Business Standard that post September 11, all their flights had been re-routed via Russia. SAS flights too are now avoiding the sensitive territory.

 

Most European carriers chose to fly over Afghanistan en route to India to save time and fuel. An Air France spokesperson said there were many optional routes available.

An aircraft can fly over Iran, Afghanistan or Russia. Flying via Iran, however, adds 25 minutes travel time to the flight, he added. Estimates of additional fuel consumption were not readily available.

The Indian carriers, Air-India and Indian Airlines, have been avoiding flying over Afghanistan and taking alternative routes since the last several years.

The routes to be adopted by the airlines cannot be dictated by the Indian Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.

Aviation security analysts belonging to the bureau said the routes taken by aircraft belonging to any international carriers did not pose any threat to Indian aviation security.

All flights originating from the West Asia fly over Afghanistan to reach India, they said. The decision to avoid Afghanistan is for the safety of the aircraft belonging to those airlines.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation