Civil aircraft owners and operators must find alternate routes for flights to avoid conflict zones in the Middle East, the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam has urged the Transport Ministry.

The airlines – Vietnam Airlines, low-cost carriers Jetstar Pacific Airlines and Vietjet Air - were asked to follow information and news on skies over conflict zones around the world to adjust their flight routes to ensure safety.

Other relevant agencies including Airport Corporation of Viet Nam, Viet Nam Air Traffic Management Corporation and airport authorities were also asked to inform airliners and crews about conflict zones.

The move by Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam (CAAV) on Thursday followed a warning from the International Civil Aviation Organisation about the operation of civil aircrafts within portions of the Baghdad, Damascus and Tehran flight regions. On October 16, Viet Nam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the CAAV about armed conflict areas.

On October 31, the Russian airline Kogalymavia's Metrojet Flight 9268 crashed in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula after breaking apart in mid-air, killing all 224 people on board. It was en route to St. Petersburg from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. 

VNS