TRAGEDY UNLIKELY TO IMPACT AIR TRAFFIC

The downing of MH17 is likely to have a direct fallout on airline operations across the globe, but experts don’t see an impact on international air traffic or a sudden increase in insurance premiums, which would make flying more expensive.

NEW DELHI: The downing of the Malaysian jet over Ukraine is likely to have a direct fallout on airline operations across the globe but experts don’t see an impact on international air traffic or a sudden increase in insurance premiums, which would make flying more expensive.

Ukrainian airspace is traditionally one of the busiest areas as most flights from Asia to Europe use this route, but all airlines now plan to avoid the conflict-hit region and fly north or south of Ukraine instead.

Many airlines, including Air India and Jet Airways, the two Indian carriers that fly to Europe, had already stopped using Ukraine airspace months ago.

An Air India official said insurance premiums would not be hit because insurance agreements are signed long-term and are not revised mid-term.

Experts agreed the crash will not impact business the way the September 11 attacks hit the aviation sector.

“Insurance firms will have all sorts of conditions and rules about rates, pay-outs and premiums. The fallout from this tragedy will not damage international traffic in the way, for example, 9/11 did,” Saj Ahmad, a Londonbased aviation analyst. “Flights will get a little bit longer but the impact, won’t even be noticed by passengers.”