Ukraine had approached AI last year back to resume overflying that it had stopped post MH 17

NEW DELHI:

Ukraine

— which is now being increasingly avoided by international airlines — had about six months back approached Air India to resume overflying the country.

The Maharaja had stopped doing that since the July 2014 shooting down of Malaysian Airlines’ Amsterdam-Kuala Lumpur flight MH 17 over eastern Ukraine that killed all 298 people on board.

AI did not then take up Ukraine’s offer, a decision that has proven to be the correct one given the geopolitical situation now. Overflying is a major source of revenue for countries, something that Ukraine had been trying to revive after MH 17.

“Air India operating nonstops between the US/Europe and India has not been overflying Ukrainian Airspace since MH 17 incident. Ukraine had contacted Air India about six months back to say that their airspace is safe and they can resume overflying. However, AI did not take up the offer,” said people in the know.

Vistara started flights to the west in after the pandemic and never utilised the Ukraine route. “Our airlines are safe (from point of avoiding Ukraine) and have additional contingency in place,” say sources.