SEPANG: There is no government directive to halt flights to the Middle East, but airlines cannot proceed as the airspace is already closed, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
“There is no directive per se. Even if we don’t issue an order, they can’t fly anyway,” he said.
“This is in line with NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) standards,” he told reporters during a press conference at the Transport Expo Asia (TXA) 2025 on Tuesday (June 24).
Loke said several airlines, including Batik Air, are affected by the sudden closure of airspace due to heightened tensions in the region.
One Batik Air flight en route to Dubai was forced to turn back over the Indian Ocean.
“It wasn’t something we could plan for. The airspace was shut suddenly and NOTAMs were issued without prior notice. All airlines are impacted. Not just from Malaysia but also from Singapore and elsewhere,” he said.
Loke added that airlines are expected to carry out their own mitigation plans, including rerouting flights or offering accommodation for stranded passengers until it is safe to resume operations.
“If there’s risk involved, they must not take it. If airspace is closed, flights can’t proceed. They must turn back or be cancelled,” he said.
Loke also confirmed that flights between Malaysia and Europe have been rerouted to avoid Iranian airspace.
“Normally, flights from Kuala Lumpur to destinations like London or Paris pass through Iran. But due to the current conflict between Iran and Israel, all flights have now opted for longer routes further north.
“From India, the planes enter Afghanistan airspace to avoid Iranian airspace,” he said.
These reroutings, he added, have already been implemented in recent weeks as part of standard safety protocols.
