ID :
49264
Fri, 03/06/2009 - 10:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/49264
The shortlink copeid
S. Korean airlines reroute flights to stay clear of N. Korean airspace
(ATTN: RECASTS title, lead; UPDATES with more details in paras 2-5, 8-10)
SEOUL, March 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korean airlines said on Thursday they have
rerouted flights to stay well clear of North Korean airspace after the communist
country warned it could not guarantee safety of passenger planes.
Korean Air and Asiana Airlines said they have ordered planes that currently use
the Kamchatka route to change course as a safety measure. On average, 10 daily
flights by South Korean flag carriers fly over the so-called flight information
region administered by North Korea.
The route is used to link Incheon International Airport on the country's west
coast with U.S. cites like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago and some Russian
destinations. Planes fly over the Kamchatka Peninsula and briefly use North
Korean airspace over the East Sea as a fuel-saving measure.
Earlier in the day, Pyongyang warned that it cannot ensure the safety of South
Korean carriers flying through its territorial airspace.
Korean Air said a message to change course was sent to a flight that took off
from Los Angeles and is expected to land at Incheon early Friday.
"All planes will be directed to fly further south over the Pacific Ocean when
heading for or arriving from North America," a company spokesperson said.
The executives said Korean Air had been in consultation with the government for
the past two months on the use of North Korean airspace by its jets, hinting it
had prepared such a development.
Asiana said the flight from Chicago scheduled to arrive early Friday has been
ordered stay outside North Korea's airspace to reflect the latest saber-rattling
by Pyongyang, which has stepped up its attacks ahead of the joint South
Korea-U.S, military exercise.
The airline added all flights that previously flew into North Korean airspace
will be redirected to ensure passenger safety.
If planes take the more circuitous route over the Pacific Ocean and Japan, up to
an hour of flight time is added since jets have to fly roughly 1,200 km more,
adding 4 million won (US$2,500) in extra operating costs per flight.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
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SEOUL, March 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korean airlines said on Thursday they have
rerouted flights to stay well clear of North Korean airspace after the communist
country warned it could not guarantee safety of passenger planes.
Korean Air and Asiana Airlines said they have ordered planes that currently use
the Kamchatka route to change course as a safety measure. On average, 10 daily
flights by South Korean flag carriers fly over the so-called flight information
region administered by North Korea.
The route is used to link Incheon International Airport on the country's west
coast with U.S. cites like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago and some Russian
destinations. Planes fly over the Kamchatka Peninsula and briefly use North
Korean airspace over the East Sea as a fuel-saving measure.
Earlier in the day, Pyongyang warned that it cannot ensure the safety of South
Korean carriers flying through its territorial airspace.
Korean Air said a message to change course was sent to a flight that took off
from Los Angeles and is expected to land at Incheon early Friday.
"All planes will be directed to fly further south over the Pacific Ocean when
heading for or arriving from North America," a company spokesperson said.
The executives said Korean Air had been in consultation with the government for
the past two months on the use of North Korean airspace by its jets, hinting it
had prepared such a development.
Asiana said the flight from Chicago scheduled to arrive early Friday has been
ordered stay outside North Korea's airspace to reflect the latest saber-rattling
by Pyongyang, which has stepped up its attacks ahead of the joint South
Korea-U.S, military exercise.
The airline added all flights that previously flew into North Korean airspace
will be redirected to ensure passenger safety.
If planes take the more circuitous route over the Pacific Ocean and Japan, up to
an hour of flight time is added since jets have to fly roughly 1,200 km more,
adding 4 million won (US$2,500) in extra operating costs per flight.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
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