Quantas is Australia's largest airline and the second oldest airline in the world. As the airline flies to 14 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and the Americas, many flights pass through Iraqi airspace. As tensions in the Middle East have intensified the airline decided to take precautionary measures to ensure the highest level of safety to passengers. This decision was made on 31st July 2014, exactly two weeks after the MH17 disaster. The re-route will only add an extra 10 minutes to the 7-hour London to Dubai flight which is scheduled four times a day. An extra 10 minutes to the journey to ensure passenger safety is very logical while the war in Iraq continues. It is understood that rather than flying directly over Iraq, planes will make a slight re-route to fly over Iran instead.
Airlines have to closely monitor flight paths over conflict zones and this should be heightened in the wake of the Eastern Ukraine MH17 total tragedy which claimed the lives of 298 people. According to the Malaysia Airline's passenger list, flight MH17 was carrying 193 Dutch nationals, 43 Malaysians, 27 Australians, 12 Indonesians, 10 Britons, 4 Germans, 4 Belgians, 3 Filipinos, 1 Canadian and 1 New Zealander. There were no survivors. Perhaps Quantas Airways made the decision to re-route over Iraq as a tribute to the 27 Australian lives that were lost on board flight MH17. At least six of those killed were delegates on their way to an international conference in Melbourne. The flight route over Ukraine had been declared as safe by the authorities, which is why it was completely unexpected.
As well as re-routing, Quantas also flies well above the minimum altitude for commercial flying jets of 20,000 feet. Quantas flights travel over Iraq at an altitude of 38,000 feet and 41,000 feet. These precautions will remain in place until new information is received. Many European airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, KLM and Air France as well as Dubai-based airlines such as Emirates have also decided to divert flights over Iraqi airspace. However, other airlines such as British Airways are continuing to fly over war-torn Iraq as they believe that it is safe. Each airline conducts their own risk assessments and with the downing of flight MH17 it should raise awareness about safety of aircrafts over conflict zones.
Re-routing can be one of the main causes for flight delays. In the case of Quantas, the re-route only caused a 10-minute flight delay but sometimes re-routes are much larger and can cause major flight disruptions. If you have been subject to a flight delay of 3-hours or more then you could be entitled to claim back compensation for your loss of time. Flight delay refunds companies such as Blueway Limited are in business to fight against the airlines to reclaim the money that passengers deserve. The delayed flight compensation claims process is very time consuming and so this is why flight delay refunds companies are so helpful.
Airlines have to closely monitor flight paths over conflict zones and this should be heightened in the wake of the Eastern Ukraine MH17 total tragedy which claimed the lives of 298 people. According to the Malaysia Airline's passenger list, flight MH17 was carrying 193 Dutch nationals, 43 Malaysians, 27 Australians, 12 Indonesians, 10 Britons, 4 Germans, 4 Belgians, 3 Filipinos, 1 Canadian and 1 New Zealander. There were no survivors. Perhaps Quantas Airways made the decision to re-route over Iraq as a tribute to the 27 Australian lives that were lost on board flight MH17. At least six of those killed were delegates on their way to an international conference in Melbourne. The flight route over Ukraine had been declared as safe by the authorities, which is why it was completely unexpected.
As well as re-routing, Quantas also flies well above the minimum altitude for commercial flying jets of 20,000 feet. Quantas flights travel over Iraq at an altitude of 38,000 feet and 41,000 feet. These precautions will remain in place until new information is received. Many European airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, KLM and Air France as well as Dubai-based airlines such as Emirates have also decided to divert flights over Iraqi airspace. However, other airlines such as British Airways are continuing to fly over war-torn Iraq as they believe that it is safe. Each airline conducts their own risk assessments and with the downing of flight MH17 it should raise awareness about safety of aircrafts over conflict zones.
Re-routing can be one of the main causes for flight delays. In the case of Quantas, the re-route only caused a 10-minute flight delay but sometimes re-routes are much larger and can cause major flight disruptions. If you have been subject to a flight delay of 3-hours or more then you could be entitled to claim back compensation for your loss of time. Flight delay refunds companies such as Blueway Limited are in business to fight against the airlines to reclaim the money that passengers deserve. The delayed flight compensation claims process is very time consuming and so this is why flight delay refunds companies are so helpful.
SHARE
