by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 7: Malaysian carriers have rerouted and suspended several flights to and from Amritsar, India and Lahore, Pakistan following escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
According to reports by The Star, Malaysia Airlines has suspended flights to and from Amritsar, India, citing evolving security and operational concerns. The move follows the temporary closure of Amritsar Airport from May 7 to 9.
The national flag carrier emphasised that passenger and crew safety remains its top priority and that it is closely monitoring the situation.
It had also re-routed two of its long-haul flights following the closure of Pakistani airspace.
Flights MH2 to London Heathrow and MH22 to Paris Charles de Gaulle were diverted on Tuesday (May 6) for a refuelling stop in Doha, Qatar, before continuing to their destinations.
“We will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure safe and reliable operations,” the airline was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, Batik Air announced that it has suspended several flights to and from Lahore, Pakistan and Amritsar, India today (May 7) and Thursday (May 8), due to ongoing airspace restrictions from heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
In its press statement, it said, the cancellation mainly affects the Kuala Lumpur-Lahore, and Kuala Lumpur-Amritsar routes.
According to reports by Reuters, India launched strikes on Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir, with Pakistan claiming that it had shot down five Indian fighter jets in what is being described as the worst conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations in more than two decades.
More than two dozen international flights have been rerouted to avoid Pakistan airspace. As of Wednesday morning local time, 52 flights to or from Pakistan had been cancelled, Reuters reported citing data from FlightRadar24. – DayakDaily
