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747-237 · Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 11:28 am Post subject: United suspends EWR-BOM

https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/united-suspends-newark-mumbai-route-after-iran-downs-u-s-drone

United Suspends Newark-Mumbai Route After Iran Downs U.S. Drone

June 20 2019

United Airlines has suspended its service between Newark and Mumbai, a route that regularly flies through Iranian airspace, after Iran shot down a U.S. military drone and as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate.

“Given current events in Iran, United has conducted a thorough safety and security review of our India service through Iranian airspace and decided to suspend our service between New York/Newark and India (Mumbai) beginning this evening,” United said in an emailed statement.

The FAA issued a flight restriction for Iranian airspace, spokeswoman Lynn Lunsford said. Delta Air Lines nor American Airlines currently fly through Iranian airspace, Reuters had earlier reported.

U.S. and Iranian officials have differing accounts of whether the high-altitude U.S. Navy drone was over international or Iranian waters when it was shot down. The downing comes after weeks of rising tensions, including attacks on cargo ships that the U.S. has also blamed on Iran.

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iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2566

UA already suspended DEL till end of July mainly due to Pak airspace closure. What is the reason for this ? While EWR-BOM was always nonstop, most of the days UA was flying BOM to EWR without stops although some days it had to make a stop.

AI should take full advantage on this route as it can fly over Iran air space and may be even introduce more flights.

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2566

UA will resume BOM and DEL flights from Sep 6th (to India), daily.

That was quick, they did not want to lose any time or give any advantage to AI and with DL flight looming they needed to get back quickly.