Flights Canceled as India-Pakistan Conflict Closes Airspace

(Bloomberg) -- An airspace closure in Pakistan and parts of Northern India disrupted flight schedules, forcing airlines to cancel or divert some flights, after the south Asian nations engaged in fighter-jet combat in an escalating security situation.

Among global carriers, Singapore Airlines Ltd. is aware of the airspace closure, which may affect some flights, the airline said in an email Wednesday. Singapore Air’s Flight 308, headed for London, changed course to avoid flying over Pakistan, the FlightRadar24 website showed. Flights around that area by other airlines including Finnair Oyj took a path over the Persian Gulf, according to the flight tracker.

SriLankan Airlines canceled flights to the Pakistani cities of Karachi and Lahore on Thursday following the airspace closure, it said in a statement. The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation said flights will be diverted after the Pakistani advisory, while the U.A.E. Aviation Authority suspended flights to Pakistan, Al Arabiya reported.

Airports in North India were shut for hours before restrictions were lifted, authorities said. IndiGo, India’s largest carrier, Singapore Airlines-affiliate Vistara, Jet Airways India Ltd., and Go Air separately said their flights were suspended at several airports.

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