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    Precautionary measures: Aerial fight over Jammu and Kashmir hits flights

    Synopsis

    About 150 flights of Indian carriers were impacted by the airport closures, inconveniencing passengers.

    ET Bureau
    NEW DELHI: India temporarily shut eight airports and Pakistan closed its air space as border hostilities escalated on Wednesday, leading to cancellations, delays and diversions. The airports reopened after about four hours on the advice of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The closure of Pakistani air space, which initially applied only to Indian carriers, meant that airlines had to stop services to that country besides increasing flying time and forcing non-stop flights to make technical halts.

    Airports closed in Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar, Pathankot, Chandigarh, Dehradun and Dharamshala to clear the northern Indian skies of civilian aircraft in case the aerial engagement expanded. The restrictions were lifted later in the day, with Chandigarh being the first to reopen followed by the others.

    Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officials said curbs had been lifted for now, signalling that they would be put back in place if needed.

    About 150 flights of Indian carriers were impacted by the airport closures, inconveniencing passengers. The airlines said passengers will be offered full refunds but didn’t elaborate on how long it would take to clear the backlog.

    Pakistan at first only issued a notice to airmen (Notam) asking all aircraft in its airspace to stay above 32,000 feet, before imposing the ban subsequently. A Jet Airways plane flying between Delhi and Dubai was allowed to enter Pakistani airspace but was asked to leave midway, forcing it to turn back. A plane belonging to a British carrier was allowed to carry on with its journey.

    “CivilAviation Authority of Pakistan has officially closed its airspace until further notice & issued Notam,” the Pakistani agency tweeted.

    With airlines avoiding Pakistani airspace, planes have been forced to make detours, leading to an increase in flying time ranging from one to three hours and having to stop for refuelling and crew changes.

    Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, flydubai, Gulf Air and Sri-Lankan Airlines were among those that suspended services to Pakistan. Singapore Airlines, British Airways and others were forced to reroute flights.

    “Qatar Airways can confirm that due to the ongoing situation on the India-Pakistan border, its flights to airports in Pakistan are currently temporarily suspended,” the carrier said. “Other flights routed over India-Pakistan aerospace may also experience delays due to rerouting around the affected area.”

    Singapore Airlines said flights to Frankfurt and London will be making technical halts in Mumbai and Dubai.


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