newstodate.aero
MAR 20, 2003 (newstodate): China Airlines has announced its contingency plans to match various scenarios as the war over Iraq expands.
China Airlines operates three passenger routes to Europe including Frankfurt, Rome and Amsterdam, and a cargo route to Luxembourg. Of these, the Frankfurt-bound routes fly over Japan and Siberia and will thus not be affected by airspace restrictions over the Middle East.
If the war affects Iraq only, and Abu Dhabi airport remaians open, the Amsterdam and Rome fligts will be moved south to fly over Oman and Saudi Arabia, taking ICAO's southern route. This will add 10-20 minutes extra flying time, the airline says. An alternative is to move the routing over Iran and Turkey instead.
If a larger area is affected, and Abu Dhabi is closed for landings but open for en-route traffic, the Rome route will stop over in Bangkok.
If all of the Middle East airspace is restricted, the airline will move all flights bound for Europe to fly over Siberia and the transpolar routes instead. This will reduce flying times by 2.5 hours on each leg.
China Airlines has also listed a range of airports to be included in its reaction plan. These airports include Cairo, Delhi, Bombay, Colombo, Vienna, Budapest, and Ankara.
The airline's aircraft also carried extra fuel for 30 minutes' flying time for landing in contingency airports once the war broke out, the airlines says.
China Airlines operates three passenger routes to Europe including Frankfurt, Rome and Amsterdam, and a cargo route to Luxembourg. Of these, the Frankfurt-bound routes fly over Japan and Siberia and will thus not be affected by airspace restrictions over the Middle East.
If the war affects Iraq only, and Abu Dhabi airport remaians open, the Amsterdam and Rome fligts will be moved south to fly over Oman and Saudi Arabia, taking ICAO's southern route. This will add 10-20 minutes extra flying time, the airline says. An alternative is to move the routing over Iran and Turkey instead.
If a larger area is affected, and Abu Dhabi is closed for landings but open for en-route traffic, the Rome route will stop over in Bangkok.
If all of the Middle East airspace is restricted, the airline will move all flights bound for Europe to fly over Siberia and the transpolar routes instead. This will reduce flying times by 2.5 hours on each leg.
China Airlines has also listed a range of airports to be included in its reaction plan. These airports include Cairo, Delhi, Bombay, Colombo, Vienna, Budapest, and Ankara.
The airline's aircraft also carried extra fuel for 30 minutes' flying time for landing in contingency airports once the war broke out, the airlines says.