Several Asian airlines have rerouted or canceled flights following heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after Indian military strikes on May 7, 2025.
The airspace restrictions imposed by both nations have led to significant disruptions in regional and international travel, affecting thousands of passengers. Airlines are closely monitoring the situation and advising travelers to stay updated on flight schedules. The heightened tensions have also raised concerns about the safety of air routes in the region, prompting aviation authorities to issue advisories for rerouting flights to avoid conflict zones.
India attacked nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir, targeting what it described as “terrorist infrastructure” in retaliation for an earlier attack that killed 26 people in Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistan reported shooting down five Indian fighter jets and declared its airspace open after a brief closure, though flight disruptions persisted.
THAI Adjusts Flight Routes to avoid South Asian Airspace
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) announces that, due to the closure of airspace and certain airports in Pakistan following the South Asia conflict, flights to Europe and South Asia will be rerouted starting at 05:00 on May 7, 2025. This may result in delays for some flights. THAI is actively monitoring the situation.
News and flight schedule updates will be available on Facebook page: THAI Corporate Communications. For more information, please call:📞 (+66) 2 356 1111 (THAI Contact Center, 24/7)
📞 (+1) 647 492 4490 (THAI Global Contact Centre)
Key Impacts on Asian Airlines
- Rerouting: Airlines like Korean Air, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines (SIA), and Taiwan’s EVA Air and China Airlines have rerouted flights to avoid Pakistani and northwest Indian airspace. For example, Korean Air’s Seoul Incheon–Dubai flights now pass over Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India, while Thai Airways began rerouting Europe and South Asia flights early on May 7. SIA and its budget carrier Scoot stopped using Pakistani airspace from May 6, potentially leading to longer flight times.
- Cancellations: Over 50 flights to or from Pakistan were canceled by Wednesday morning, May 7, with more than two dozen international flights diverted. Scoot canceled flights to Amritsar due to the closure of Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport. Taiwan’s China Airlines canceled flights to London, Frankfurt, and Rome, with some requiring technical stops in Bangkok or Prague for refueling.
- Airspace Congestion: Flight tracking data showed heavy use of alternative routes over Oman, the UAE, and Kuwait, raising concerns about airspace congestion. Pakistan noted 57 international flights were in its airspace when India struck, prompting safety concerns from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office.
- Indian Airports: About a dozen Indian airports, including Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar, and Chandigarh, were temporarily shut, disrupting domestic and international flights. Indian carriers like Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air canceled flights to 10 northern and northwestern cities.
Major Airline Responses
- Thai Airways has announced that at least eight flights to European destinations, including London, Munich, and Frankfurt, will be rerouted. However, flights to Brussels and Paris are expected to proceed as scheduled. A flight from Frankfurt to Bangkok was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Dubai.
- Malaysia Airlines reported that flights from Kuala Lumpur to London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle were diverted for refueling in Doha, Qatar.
- Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary Scoot have ceased operations through Pakistani airspace, which may lead to slightly longer flight durations. They have committed to accommodating passengers on alternative flights as necessary.
- Batik Air, part of Indonesia’s Lion Group, has canceled flights to and from Lahore and Amritsar for Wednesday and Thursday.
- AirAsia is monitoring the situation closely but has not confirmed whether its direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Karachi will operate as scheduled on May 30.
- Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport has reported delays and reroutes for some Europe-bound flights, with a London flight already canceled.
- Japan Airlines is diverting flights to Doha and carrying extra fuel on routes to New Delhi and Bengaluru.
Safety Measures Airlines are prioritizing the safety of their passengers and crew, actively monitoring the evolving situation. The Airports Authority of Thailand has implemented contingency plans to assist passengers who may miss connecting flights, particularly at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Sources: Reuters, The Straits Times, FlightRadar24
