Russian and CIS airlines report changes to schedules in order to avoid the targeted areas (250 words)

Published: 10/12/2001

Russian and CIS airlines have begun to change routes in response to the US military action in Afghanistan. Siberia Airlines (Sibir) cancelled its service Novosibirsk to Dubai, UAE on 9th October 2001, with the possibility that the route may remain closed until the 23rd October, unless there is a marked improvement in the political situation. Sibir is reported to be currently working on getting its passengers from Dubai to Russia by other routes. Aeroflot says that as yet it has not cancelled any flights, but some of the flight plans have been altered to Delhi, Bombay, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Bangkok and Singapore, increasing flight time on average by 10-15 minutes, although the airline stated it still has the right to overfly Iran, Iraq and Pakistan. Aeroflot's closure of its direct flight to Chicago from Moscow was already planned for the winter schedule, for business reasons, but other flights to New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington D.C will continue. The airline may, however, consider using a Boeing 767 as opposed to the current Boeing 777. Uzbekistan Airways reported that it also plans to use detours on its flights to Southeast Asia Delhi, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Amritsar. The company confirmed that tougher safety measures were in place at its airports in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Urgench and air marshalls are being employed on high risk flights.

Article ID: 2821