Thai Airways has temporarily cancelled flights to Europe after the sudden closure of Pakistani air space due to safety concerns of flying over the politically warring countries of India & Pakistan.
The cancellations affect all passengers travelling with Thai Airways on 27 and 28 February between Bangkok and countries including Paris, London, Frankfurt, Milan, Rome, Zurich, Oslo, Stockholm, Munich, Copenhagen, Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
Although thousands of passengers are believed to be affected by the air space closure, there’s a grave concern for traveller safety after Pakistan is believed to have shot down two Indian military aircraft on Wednesday, while India claimed to have shot down one Pakistani fighter jet.
In a statement, Thai Airways’ Vice President, Aviation Safety, Security & Standards Department, Flight Lieutenant PratanaPatanasiri, said flights cancellations will maintain the highest passenger and operational safety standards.
The carrier is monitoring the situation closely in order to properly assess the situation and plans to operate flights on an alternative route that does not pass Pakistan and is now awaiting for airspace authorisation.
The tension between the two disputing countries grew earlier this week when an Indian aircraft was responsible for attacking a Pakistani town near Balakot, which is believed to have been a training camp for the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed. The same terrorist group responsible for a suicide bombing in the India-controlled territory of southern Kashmir, which killed at least 40 paramilitary forces.
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