THAI reroutes Europe flights to avoid Ukraine airspace

[webfact]

UKRAINE CRASH
THAI reroutes Europe flights to avoid Ukraine airspace
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) announced Friday that it has rerouted THAI flights to and from Europe to avoid Ukraine airspace.

The rerouting was made after a Malaysian airliner was apparently shot down while in Ukrainian airspace crossing the rebel-held east of the country.

THAI affirmed that no flights are operating in this airspace and that the rerouting would cause some flights to be delayed up to half an hour.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/THAI-reroutes-Europe-flights-to-avoid-Ukraine-airs-30238837.html


-- The Nation 2014-07-18

[webfact]

Thai Airways adjusts routes to Europe, all avoiding Ukrainian air space

BANGKOK, 18 July 2014 (NNT) – Thai Airways International has adjusted all flight paths to Europe, avoiding Ukrainian air space.

This follows the tragic incident where a Malaysia Airlines (MH 17) with 295 passengers on board flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was apparently shot down near the Russian border. Thai Airways has immediately announced that all its flights to Europe have been adjusted so that Thai passenger aircraft do not pass through Ukrainian air space.

However, flight times will increase by about 30 minutes, due to the indirect routes avoiding the skies over Ukrainian territory.


-- NNT 2014-07-18

[Artisi]

Sounds like a wise move after the horse has bolted.

[sotsira]

Hopefully all airlines will avoid Ukrainian airspace from today

as they all fly over there when travelling to and from Asia and Europe.

P.S Iraq airspace should also be avoided.

Edited July 18, 2014 by sotsira

[webfact]

THAI revises flights on European routes
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, July 18 -- Thai Airways International (THAI) acted Friday to avoid flying over Ukrainian airspace after a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet carrying 298 people from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed a day earlier, THAI officials said.

They said Thailand’s national flag carrier made the decision to revise its flight routes to Europe by avoiding the Ukrainian airspace for safety reasons of its passengers following Thursday’s incident in which Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was reportedly shot down and crashed near the town of Shaktarsk, in rebel-held east Ukraine.

Reports by international wire services quoted the Ukrainian government saying that the jetliner was shot down in a "terrorist act," while comments attributed to a pro-Russia rebel chief suggested his men may have downed the plane by mistake, believing it was a Ukrainian army transport aircraft.

THAI officials said the airline would try to reach destinations in Europe on time despite revised flight path.

However, it also depended on weather conditions and air traffic, they said.

Senior officials of state enterprises under the Transport Ministry, meanwhile, attended a meeting chaired by Soithip Trisuddhi, permanent secretary for transport.

Ms Soithip ordered the officials, especially those of THAI and the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand to check on details as to whether THAI flew over Ukrainian airspace where the MH17 was shot down.

She also instructed THAI to inform the public if there were any route adjustments in order to create confidence among the passengers. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-07-18

[JoePai]

That's a relief, am off to Paris tonight

[ginjag]

Some European flights/Korean/USA etc had advised this 3 months ago as a precaution, WHY did Thai instruct only after the announcement of this incident. Does that mean Lucky Thai ??

Just another point, Flying Emirates from Dubai on your second leg to Europe they fly inside Iran airspace avoiding Iraq, until the plane gets into Turkish air space. Just to give passengers on Etihad/Emirates flights some insight and easier feeling.

[espinoza]

Do Thai fly over Russia instead ? If so I will choose to fly via Dubai or Doha.

[Basil B]

Do Thai fly over Russia instead ? If so I will choose to fly via Dubai or Doha.

I doubt it, probably to the west of the Ukraine.

[Artisi]

That's a relief, am off to Paris tonight

In preparation of YL's arrival

[Oziex1]

What other hot spots do we fly over that we are not aware of and will it take a disaster like MH17 before they re route?

[Chicog]

Presumably this involves using more fuel. Surcharge?

[chubby]

better late than never, RIP Malaysia Airlines x 2 and their business plans

[dabhand]

There were reports last night of TG and AF flights, maybe more, being in the same flight corridor as the MH plane when it was shot down....!!

Hard to believe that the area was no flight ban for this region following the downing of Ukrainian planes in the last few days + the knowledge that the rebels had missiles that were able to go above the so called safe flying level.

It seems that most of these international organisations - not just connected with the travel industry, but many other activities - are more interested in talking shops in exotic locations with all expenses paid, rather than doing what they are paid to do.

[ginjag]

There were reports last night of TG and AF flights, maybe more, being in the same flight corridor as the MH plane when it was shot down....!!

Hard to believe that the area was no flight ban for this region following the downing of Ukrainian planes in the last few days + the knowledge that the rebels had missiles that were able to go above the so called safe flying level.

It seems that most of these international organisations - not just connected with the travel industry, but many other activities - are more interested in talking shops in exotic locations with all expenses paid, rather than doing what they are paid to do.

Many mid day flights from Europe, on that route land approx. 6am this area.

[Basil B]

Clearly the rebels, but I doubt they could have fired these missiles without the assistance of the Russians, but there again the Russians do have a habit of shooting down civilian planes.

Obviously all Russian air space should be avoided...

Edited July 18, 2014 by Basil B

[Kitbaikitmah]

A very serious development....how many others ( with the capability) will now copy the same tactic to further/highlight their cause/political agenda.

Black market SAM prices most have 'skyrocketed' in the last 24 hours

[3NUMBAS]

trouble is theres lots more hot spots they fly over where they never though a missile could bring down an airliner because it was thought to be out of range

[muratremix]

Turkish Airspace still much better option to fly Thailand from Europe. I don't understand why they pass over Ukraine? Open the Map, you'll see how much it makes sense to use Turkey - Iran - India route.

ISIS doesn't have surface to Air missiles (yet) so Iraqi airspace should be safe aswell.

[OnTheRun]

Sounds like a wise move after the horse has bolted.

I assume nobody at Thai Airways has a crystal ball so like every other airline in the world was unable to predict a passenger aircraft getting shot down (allegedly).

Aircraft still fly over Afghanistan despite a couple of hundred surface to air missiles still being unaccounted for since Uncle Sam supplied them to the Mujahadin during the Russian - Afghan war.

[shaurene]

Wow some one with brains, when this conflicted started no airline should allow there aircraft to go over any country having a war stands to bloody common sense, any trigger happy rebel can let off a missile like this.

They all wait till something happens the flight paths should be well away from these areas and countries.

[OnTheRun]

trouble is theres lots more hot spots they fly over where they never though a missile could bring down an airliner because it was thought to be out of range

The Russians have had the capability to shoot down aircraft a lot higher than commercial airliners since the early 60's. The U2 spy plane was shot down at an altitude around 60,000 Ft

[wabothai]

When you fly east-west or west-east you are likely to find yourself in dangerous airspace. If this would be eliminated most of us will not be able to afford our yearly ticket to Thailand.

[Dee Kwa]

On a brighter note, I hear that Aircraft Crash Investigation' is bringing out a Malaysian Airlines box set.

[stgrhe]

A warning has been out for quite some time and some airlines, e.g. Air France, British Airways, Astana and Korean had already re-routed their flights whereas KLM, Lufthansa, MAS and Thai ignored the warning. Fuelsavings are apparently worth the risk for some airlines whereas others put safety first.

[DamienG]

That's a relief, am off to Paris tonight

Have a safe flight

[Geordie Boy]

God Bless all the family & friends of these poor souls who died & to my two fellow Geordies R.I.P.

[wilcopops]

in other words they have, like everyone else, been flying their customers over a war zone.......even though they are run by the
Air Force.

[shanahan]

Off topic, but the Thai Airways picture shows what looks like an MD11 aircraft that TG hasn't had for many years. The last of them were sold off to another airline to do freight only runs.

Edited July 18, 2014 by shanahan

[Johpa]

A very serious development....how many others ( with the capability) will now copy the same tactic to further/highlight their cause/political agenda.

Black market SAM prices most have 'skyrocketed' in the last 24 hours

It is not often that a SAM missile capable of hitting a very high altitidue target such as a commercial airliner falls into the hands of "rebel" groups. Unlike the smaller shoulder fired SAMs with limited range and altitude, these are not the types of weapon systems casually available on the black market being sold to non-state entities. But the fact that such a system was allowed to fall into the hands of a rebel group with the full knowledge, and apparently but not yet verified full support, of a state entity is indeed a very serious development. Putin, the KGB thug, has become a global danger.