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Air India cancels its only Kabul flight, diverts 2 US-Delhi flights to avoid 'uncontrolled' Afghan airspace

It was the lone commercial flight scheduled to operate between both the countries
Last Updated 16 August 2021, 11:36 IST

National carrier Air India cancelled its Delhi-Kabul-Delhi flight that was scheduled to operate on Monday after Kabul airport authorities declared that its airspace is not in its control.

Air India is the only airline that has been operating flights to Kabul. Monday's flight was the lone commercial flight scheduled to operate between both the countries.

Air India also diverted two flights coming to Delhi from the US and Vistara one to avoid Afghanistan airspace. The flights -- San Francisco-Delhi and Chicago-Delhi -- were diverted to Sharjah.

Both flights will land in Sharjah for refuelling purposes and will then leave for Delhi while avoiding the Afghan airspace.

Officials said the Afghanistan airspace has been declared "uncontrolled" by the Kabul airport on Monday.

Vistara's flights from Delhi to London also have stopped using Afghanistan airspace.

"We have stopped using Afghanistan airspace and are taking an alternate route for our flights to and from London Heathrow. We are closely working with the relevant authorities to monitor and assess the situation and take necessary steps to ensure the safety of our passengers, staff and aircraft," Vistara spokesperson said on Monday.

However, the airline, which currently operates four weekly flights on Delhi-London-Delhi route, is not going to reduce the number of services on this route.

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(Published 16 August 2021, 10:23 IST)

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