Vietnam Airlines diverts flights to Europe after Pakistan closes airspace

HÀ NỘI — Vietnam Airlines (VNA) resumed flights to and from Europe on Thursday but flights would be diverted around Pakistan after it closed its airspace, the national flag carrier announced.

According to VNA vice director general Nguyễn Hồng Lĩnh, flights from Việt Nam to Europe were being diverted to the north via China, Russia, Mongolia amd Kazakhstan to enter Europe.

Fights from Europe to Việt Nam were being diverted to the south via Italy, Serbia, Jordan, UAE, Oman, India, Myanmar and Thailand.

The diversion had added an extra 40 minutes to flight times.

Lĩnh said the temporary adjustment had been applied after Pakistan closed its airspace on Wednesday for an indefinite period in the wake of the escalating tensions with India, Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) newspaper reported. — VNS