United reroutes planes around Afghanistan, Emirates suspends Kabul flights

United on Sunday started rerouting its India flights to avoid Afghanistan airspace after Taliban fighters entered the capital Kabul, sealing a takeover of the country, and US officials scrambled to evacuate its personnel. “Due to the dynamic nature of the situation we have begun routing affected flights around Afghanistan airspace,” the airline said. The carrier serves Delhi from its Newark Liberty International Airport hub daily and five times a week from Chicago O’Hare International Airport. It also flies from Newark to Mumbai daily. The flights are among its longest routes. United said it “will continue to work closely” with the FAA and the IATA “to evaluate the situation and determine how we continue service to markets impacted.” United is the only major US passenger airline currently flying nonstop to India. The FAA on July 25 prohibited US airlines from overflying Afghanistan air space below 26,000 feet, which is lower than cruising altitude for such long flights, “due to the risk posed by extremist/militant activity and limited risk mitigation capabilities.” A United spokeswoman said the decision to route around Afghanistan on Sunday was its own. Flydubai and Emirates said they suspended flights to Kabul.<br/>