Flights by Asian airlines are being diverted or cancelled as a result of the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan.
TAIPEI FOUND IN FLUX:
In a dramatic turn of events, some Asian airlines have shuffled their flight paths on Wednesday, away from Europe, due to the skirmish between India and Pakistan. The news has rattled the quiet city of Taipei, causing adjustments to flight schedules and unexpected detours for passengers.
India initiated an attack on Pakistan and Azaad Kashmir, prompting Pakistan to claim that it had taken down five Indian fighter jets in the fiercest confrontation between these nuclear-armed neighbours in over two decades.
In a move aimed at ensuring passenger safety, Eva Air announced that it would steer clear of airspace affected by the India-Pakistan conflict. As a result, a Vienna-bound flight will be diverted back to the city, while a Taipei flight heading for Milan will be rerouted to Vienna for refueling before proceeding to its destination.
International heavyweights such as Lufthansa and Air France have also opted to steer clear of Pakistan's airspace, given the tense situation. Korean Air, meanwhile, has been circumventing Pakistan airspace for all flights bound for Dubai from South Korea's Incheon airport.
China Airlines, Taiwan's flagship carrier, has activated its contingency plan to ensure the well-being of its passengers and crew members. However, it offered no further details regarding the precautions taken. The Taoyuan International Airport's website showed that a non-stop China Airlines flight to London had been called off.
In a bizarre turn, educational institutions in Punjab, Pakistan have been instructed to remain closed, amid the heightened tensions. Before the invasion of Ukraine, many Europe-bound flights from Taiwan passed over Russian airspace. Now, with Taiwanese airlines barred, these flights usually navigate over India, Pakistan, and Central Asia.
United Airlines, an American carrier, has pulled the plug on its New Delhi flight, due to the troubled India-Pakistan relations and the ensuing airspace limitations. The company will continue to monitor the situation, keeping an open mind about future flights as more information becomes available.
A look back at history reveals that during the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, Asian airlines went to great lengths to avoid Pakistani airspace, re-routing their flights or cancelling them altogether due to safety concerns. As tensions cooled and airports in northern India reopened, airlines resumed normal operations gradually, though lingering imprecisions and adjustments persisted.
Sources:
- Air travel disrupted as India, Pakistan customarily trade cross-border artillery fire; airports shut, flights cancelled
- Impact of 2025 India-Pakistan conflict on aviation Industry
- Asia airlines make major changes due to Indo-Pak tensions
- India reopens sky as air travel resumes in northern India
- Flight waivers extended to ease disruptions caused by India-Pakistan conflict
In light of the ongoing war-and-conflicts between India and Pakistan, Eva Air has made a decision to avoid the affected airspace, resulting in a Taipei-bound flight being rerouted to Vienna for refueling before continuing to Milan.
As a response to the general-news of the India-Pakistan confrontation, educational institutions in Punjab, Pakistan have been instructed to remain closed.
