THAI cancels all flights to Europe

[PeteC]

If THAI has done this I would imagine many other airlines have as well, unless they are able to re-route avoiding the airspace. Unfortunately it appears some may be late for their holiday here, or delayed in getting home.

Chart of cancelled THAI flights at link.
_______________________________________

THAI cancels all flights to Europe
Published: 27/02/2019 at 11:59 PM
Online news: https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... recent_box


All flights from Thailand to Europe were cancelled Wednesday night and early Thursday after Pakistan closed its airspace.

Initial flights cancelled were four from Suvarnabhumi - TG974 to Moscow, TG954 to Oslo, TG930 to Paris, and TG916 to London - and TG296 from Phuket to Frankfurt.

But the number of cancelled flights rose quickly, and it appeared all flights between Europe and Thailand would be grounded. Swiss Airlines quickly cancelled its scheduled flight to Zurich.

Flights from Europe to Thailand were almost certain to be affected as well. The flight cancellations also will affect other airports in Southeast and East Asia.

Thai Airways International president Sumeth Damrongchaitham described the situation as an emergency, and called an urgent meeting of top airline officials. He said one obvious stopgap measure was to change the routing of flights between Thailand and Europe - not a trivial task.

The situation affects 13 THAI flights to and from Copenhagen, Oslo, Brussels, Paris, Moscow, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Stockholm, London (Heathrow), Rome, Milan and Vienna.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Indian government also closed that country's airspace over parts of the northern India, according to Rakesh Asthana, the director general of the Bureau of Civil Aviation and Security. It was not immediately clear if that would also affect air traffic between Europe and Thailand.

THAI cancelled all three of its scheduled flights to Pakistan on Thursday, and the Iranian airline announced cancellation of its flight from Bangkok to Tehran.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Thai embassy in Islamabad had issued a travel warning that advised all Thai travellers to avoid trips to Kashmir, the epicentre of the Indian-Thai dispute and military clashes.

Brussels-based Eurocontrol, which coordinates the airspace of 41 nations, told airlines in a bulletin that Pakistan’s airspace was closed "with immediate effect".

The airspace closures came as the two countries reported sharp clashes including the reported downing of two Indian warplanes inside Pakistan.

Tension has been elevated since a suicide car bombing by Pakistan-based militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary police on Feb 14.

These flights (below) all had been cancelled as of midnight Wednesday.

Other airports including Phuket and Don Mueang, also were affected, and all passengers in Thailand booked on flights heading west are advised to check their flight before heading for the airport on Thursday.

[HHTel]

Just woke up and saw this. My mother was supposed to fly home today with KLM. Just checked and the flight is cancelled. The one that was in the air was delayed arriving in Amsterdam by 3 and a half hours so I guess they rerouted on route.
I'd better check with immigration as that puts her on 'overstay'!!
Said all her goodbye's last night...... lol!

[HHTel]

I'd just like to thank you, Pete, for that timely posting. If I hadn't seen that I'd have been on the way to the airport and would have been none the wiser until I got there. Saved me a trip.
She's been rebooked for 8am in the morning to Hong Kong and from there to Amsterdam. Another sleepless night!

[caller]

It seems Thai Airways weren't able to react as quickly as others?

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47392300

[PeteC]

Re-routing through China airspace now.....

THAI resumes flights to Europe
Published: 28/02/2019 at 11:35 AM
Online news: https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transp ... recent_box

Thai Airways International announced it was resuming flights to Europe on Thursday, avoiding Pakistan and using Chinese airspace instead, but Lahore flights remained grounded.

Pratana Patanasiri, vice president for aviation safety, said that as Pakistan had closed its skies the airline had sought and obtained permission to fly through China instead. Services between Bangkok and European destinations were resuming .

Day flights now scheduled on Thursday were TG974 to Moscow, TG916 to London, TG922 to Frankfurt, and TG962 to Stockholm.

Night flights resuming, including those scheduled for a Friday departure, were TG920 to Frankfurt, TG910 to London, TG924 to Munich, TG930 to Paris, TG934 to Brussels, TG944 to Milan, TG936 to Vienna, TG960 to Stockholm, TG970 to Zurich, TG950 to Copenhagen, and TG954 to Oslo.

THAI would operate flights TG507 and TG508 on the Bangkok-Muscat route on Friday, but they would exclude a stopover in Karachi.

The airline cancelled flights TG345 and TG346 on the Bangkok-Lahore route on Friday.

Flight cancellations had left thousands of Europe-bound travellers stranded at Suvarnabhumi airport since Wednesday. Authorities tried to arrange for affordable hotels and shuttle services near the airport. Some travellers decided to wait there.

There was no information available on flights from Europe to Thailand.

[HHTel]

KLM flights were cancelled today. Alternative routing is via Thai Airways tomorrow to Hong Kong to link up with KLM Hong Kong to Amsterdam.
Yesterday's flight was rerouted en route adding a 3 and a half hours and others did a U-turn.
It wasn't just Thai Airways affected.

[huahinjim]

Came back today on BA flight from London. Airmap on plane showed routing via southern India. Arrived about 15 mins late. No gangway available so plane parked up away from the terminal. Took 45 minutes for buses to arrive and transfer to terminal. This was put down to a technical fault on the plane already at that gate. No mention on the flight or at Heathrow about rerouting