Date: 2024-04-29 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00020874
Afghanistan
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CNN ... Airlines avoid Afghan airspace as Kabul airport closes to commercial flights
Peter Burgess
Airlines avoid Afghan airspace as Kabul airport closes to commercial flights By Michelle Toh and Lauren Lau, CNN Business Updated 7:43 AM ET, Mon August 16, 2021 Now PlayingOusted President Ghani... Video shows helicopters over Kabul as US Embassy evacuated taliban former us military base afghanistan ghazni province ward dnt lead vpx_00025413 CNN gets access to US military base seized by the Taliban screengrab Saigon Kabul split 'This is not Saigon': Blinken says Afghanistan is different than Vietnam CNN's Michael Holmes speaks to Afghan freelance journalist Ali Latifi about what life is like in Afghanistan's capital Kabul after the Taliban's takeover of Kandahar and Herat, the country's second and third largest cities, respectively. Afghan journalist in Kabul explains why Taliban takeover of major cities matters 'Blood on his hands': Republican rips Biden over Afghanistan Jim Acosta John Kirby vpx 'Am I wrong?': Jim Acosta presses Pentagon spokesperson Bergen: Afghanistan an unforced error blowing up on Biden's watch Journalist was at a cafe when Taliban attacked. Hear his story Chaos and gunfire at Kabul airport as Taliban take over the city The Taliban have taken control of the presidential palace in Afghanistan's capital Kabul after former President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. With more than two decades of experience covering the country, CNN's Christiane Amanpour explains how we got here and what this means for Afghans. Christiane Amanpour: 'The Taliban have been waiting for this moment for 20 years' Former President Ashraf Ghani fled Afghanistan as the Taliban closed in on Kabul on August 15. Before fleeing, Ghani called for security and peace in the country. Ghani's exit has been sharply criticized by his detractors who claim he abandoned the country. CNN's International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson reports.NOW PLAYING Ousted President Ghani fled Afghanistan. Here's how his government fell taliban presidential palace kabul afghanistan paton walsh nr vpx_00020603 Video appears to show Taliban inside presidential palace Kristen Rouse 'I am about to die': Afghan interpreter's message to US veteran A U.S. Chinook helicopter flies near the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. Helicopters are landing at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul as diplomatic vehicles leave the compound amid the Taliban advanced on the Afghan capital. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) 'That's what the world thinks this is': Reporter discusses Kabul comparisons to Saigon Five presidents, five strategies: The US' wars in Afghanistan Video shows helicopters over Kabul as US Embassy evacuated taliban former us military base afghanistan ghazni province ward dnt lead vpx_00025413 CNN gets access to US military base seized by the Taliban screengrab Saigon Kabul split 'This is not Saigon': Blinken says Afghanistan is different than Vietnam CNN's Michael Holmes speaks to Afghan freelance journalist Ali Latifi about what life is like in Afghanistan's capital Kabul after the Taliban's takeover of Kandahar and Herat, the country's second and third largest cities, respectively. Afghan journalist in Kabul explains why Taliban takeover of major cities matters 'Blood on his hands': Republican rips Biden over Afghanistan Jim Acosta John Kirby vpx 'Am I wrong?': Jim Acosta presses Pentagon spokesperson Bergen: Afghanistan an unforced error blowing up on Biden's watch Journalist was at a cafe when Taliban attacked. Hear his story Chaos and gunfire at Kabul airport as Taliban take over the city The Taliban have taken control of the presidential palace in Afghanistan's capital Kabul after former President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. With more than two decades of experience covering the country, CNN's Christiane Amanpour explains how we got here and what this means for Afghans. Christiane Amanpour: 'The Taliban have been waiting for this moment for 20 years' Former President Ashraf Ghani fled Afghanistan as the Taliban closed in on Kabul on August 15. Before fleeing, Ghani called for security and peace in the country. Ghani's exit has been sharply criticized by his detractors who claim he abandoned the country. CNN's International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson reports. Ousted President Ghani fled Afghanistan. Here's how his government fell taliban presidential palace kabul afghanistan paton walsh nr vpx_00020603 Video appears to show Taliban inside presidential palace Kristen Rouse 'I am about to die': Afghan interpreter's message to US veteran A U.S. Chinook helicopter flies near the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. Helicopters are landing at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul as diplomatic vehicles leave the compound amid the Taliban advanced on the Afghan capital. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) 'That's what the world thinks this is': Reporter discusses Kabul comparisons to Saigon Five presidents, five strategies: The US' wars in Afghanistan Video shows helicopters over Kabul as US Embassy evacuated
Hong Kong (CNN Business)Major international airlines are scrambling to reroute flights away from Afghan airspace as the country falls to the Taliban, disrupting passenger services to India, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
On Monday, United Airlines (UAL), Virgin Atlantic, Emirates and Flydubai all announced changes to flights to or over Afghanistan, saying that they would monitor the situation as chaotic scenes unfolded at the main airport in Kabul, the nation's capital.
'Due to the dynamic nature of the situation, we have begun routing affected flights around Afghanistan airspace,' a United Airlines spokesperson said in a statement early Monday morning local time, adding that it would continue to work closely with authorities to 'determine how we continue service to markets impacted.' The changes affect United flights to India.
Chaos is unfolding in Afghanistan. Here's what you need to know.
Chaos is unfolding in Afghanistan. Here's what you need to know.
Virgin Atlantic also said that it would reroute its upcoming services to India and Pakistan after 'the latest situation reports in Afghanistan.' Starting Monday, the carrier's flights to the cities of Islamabad, Lahore, Mumbai and New Delhi, which usually fly over Afghanistan, will be diverted to avoid the country's airspace.
'The health, safety and security of our customers and people always comes first,' a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said in a statement.
Lufthansa (DLAKY), the German airline, also said that it was 'rerouting flights to avoid Afghan airspace until further notice.'
'As a result, the flight time to India and other destinations will be extended by up to one hour,' a spokesperson told CNN Business. Cut off Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country Sunday, hours before Taliban fighters took control of the presidential palace in Kabul. A growing number of countries are now working to evacuate their citizens from Afghanistan, including the United States, South Korea and New Zealand. On Monday, the Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority announced that commercial flights had been canceled out of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. The civilian side of the airport is closed, according to a notice to airmen. Evacuation flights organized by foreign governments were still taking off. Several carriers had already announced plans to cancel services. Both Emirates and Flydubai — a government-owned budget carrier — said that services to and from Kabul had been suspended. There were scenes of pandemonium early Monday at the airport, where hundreds of people flooded the tarmac and large crowds were seen attempting to board aircraft. Air India was one of the few remaining airlines still running a regular service to and from Kabul prior to the announcement of the suspension of all commercial flights. Hours earlier, the carrier had said that it was trying to operate its scheduled flights for Afghanistan, 'situation permitting.' But an Air India flight scheduled to depart to Kabul at 12:30 p.m. local time, or 3 am E.T. on Monday, was canceled just shortly before takeoff. Afghan journalists are 'absolutely petrified' amid the Taliban takeover Afghan journalists are 'absolutely petrified' amid the Taliban takeover The plane was due to leave from New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport and pick up passengers in Kabul before returning to India, an airline spokesperson told CNN Business. US airlines were already operating under new restrictions imposed by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in July, which prohibited them from operating at certain altitudes in Afghanistan, 'with the exception of operations into and out of Hamid Karzai International Airport.' — CNN's Manveena Suri, Angus Watson and Jonny Hallam contributed to this report. PAID CONTENT