Kazakhstan Advises Airlines to Avoid Middle Eastern Airspace
In response to the volatile political situation in several Middle Eastern countries, the Civil Aviation Committee of Kazakhstan (KCA) has issued recommendations to domestic airlines, advising them against flying over the airspace of seven nations in the region.
Citing concerns over heightened tensions in Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, and Syria, the KCA has assessed the potential risks associated with the current situation. As a result, Kazakh airlines have been cautioned against utilizing the airspace of these countries, TuraNews.kz reports citing Zakon.kz.
Currently, Kazakh airlines are in the process of revising their flight schedules to accommodate alternative routes that circumvent the airspace of the aforementioned nations. The airlines are closely monitoring the evolving situation and are prepared to make further adjustments to their schedules if deemed necessary.
In light of these developments, flights QR-389/390 and QR-391/392 operated by Qatar Airways on the Doha-Almaty-Doha route, scheduled for April 13 and 14, have been indefinitely delayed. The airline is considering altering the flight routes, and passengers are being provided with the necessary assistance in accordance with existing regulations.
Similarly, Air Astana has reported delays in flights to Dubai from both Almaty and Astana. Passengers are advised to stay updated on the status of their flights through official airline channels or by contacting airline call centers.
Ensuring the safety of passengers remains a top priority for the civil aviation industry, emphasized the department.
The situation escalated further on the night of April 14, with Iran confirming the launch of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and announcing plans for a missile attack on Israel. The conflict reportedly stemmed from Iran’s retaliation for an earlier deadly attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, allegedly carried out by Israel. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the hostilities and called for an immediate cessation, prompting an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council scheduled for April 14 at 16:00 New York time (April 15, 01:00 Astana time).
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense has assured that there is no imminent threat to Kazakh peacekeepers stationed in the Golan Heights.
