Thai Airways International is resuming flights to European destinations via China instead of Pakistan after an abrupt cancellation of several flights last night due to armed tensions between India and Pakistan.

Pratthana Pattanasiri, director for aviation safety at THAI, said today that the national flag carrier had been granted permission from China to fly to European destinations through Chinese airspace while airspace over Pakistan remains closed.

He said that the schedules for daytime and the nighttime flights to European cities remain as normal, but the route of flights TG507 and TG508 between Bangkok and Muscat will be adjusted without a stopover in Karachi. Flights TG345 and TG346 between Bangkok-Lahore-Bangkok have been cancelled until further notice.

Pratthana said the airline was closely monitoring the situation in the sub-continent and he advised travelers to check with THAI’s website or call THAI Contact Centre before heading for the airport.

About 5,000 Thai and foreign passengers were stranded at Suvarnabhumi International Airport last night as several Europe-bound flights were abruptly cancelled while other flights which had just left the airport were called back.