Qantas is forced to divert flights to Europe due to anti-aircraft clashes between India and Pakistan over disputed region of Kashmir – adding 20 minutes to flight times
- Australian airline said it would divert London-Singapore service on Thursday
- Flights through Indian airspace is continuing but Pakistani airspace is closed
- Services re-routed each way to avoid country’s skies, Qantas spokesperson said
- Thousands of passengers have seen journeys disrupted by the military clash
Qantas is among the airlines forced to divert flights away from Kashmir following the military clash between India and Pakistan in Kashmir.
The airline on Thursday changed the route of its London to Singapore service, which thousands of Australian use each week to return home from Eurpoe, amid escalating tensions in the region.
A Qantas spokesman said flights QF1 and QF2 had been re-routed in both directions.
‘We’ve changed our flight path which adds around 20 minutes,’ a Qantas spokesperson said.
Qantas have been forced to divert flights away from Kashmir following the fighter-jet clash between India and Pakistan – adding 20 minutes to one of its routes (stock image)
Flights through Indian airspace are continuing, but all domestic commercial and international flights have been cancelled to and from Pakistan pending further notice.
Flight data showed Pakistan’s skies nearly completely empty throughout Thursday.
Passengers due to fly with Thai Airways from Europe to Bangkok have suffered from some of the worst disruption resulting from the crisis.
Ten of the airline’s flights scheduled over the past two days have also been cancelled, but Thai Airways said it would resume services after being granted permission from China to use its airspace.
Thousands of passengers have been affected by the disruption as carriers struggle to maintain the roughly 220 flights that run between Europe and Southeast Asia every day.
The airline was forced to change the route of its London-Singapore service, due to arrive in the city on Thursday (pictured Pakistani airspace on Thursday morning)
The conflict between India and Pakistan deepened on Wednesday after the latter claimed they carried out air strikes and shot down two Indian military jets.
Pakistani forces were later pictured seemingly parading a captured Indian pilot – blindfolded and bloodied – for the camera.
The day before, Indian warplanes aid it downed a Pakistani jet for the first time since a war in 1971, prompting leading powers to urge both of the nuclear-armed countries to show restraint.
The conflict between India and Pakistan deepened on Wednesday after the latter claimed they carried out air strikes and shot down two Indian military jets