Missiles and jets are 'operating on very different altitudes': Cathay's decision to change Hong Kong-Europe route disputed by other airlines
Some major carriers still flying over Caspian Sea despite safety warnings
A gulf has emerged among airlines flying between Hong Kong and Europe on routes over the Middle East that may become vulnerable as Russia fires missiles on war-ravaged Syria.
Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines and Turkish Airlines continue to operate flights over the Caspian Sea despite warnings from air safety agencies last week - issued soon after Moscow escalated its military involvement in the civil war.
In contrast, Cathay Pacific Airways, which flies to Frankfurt and Zurich like Lufthansa and Swiss International, promptly rerouted its European flights to cruise over northern China and Russia instead of the Middle East.
The change came after the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the European Aviation Safety Agency released safety bulletins concerning possible threats to passenger jets. The warnings covered Iraq, Iran and the Caspian Sea.
In response to the bulletins, Hong Kong's aviation safety authority, the Civil Aviation Department, said it issued "Notices to Airmen" and "Flight Operations Notice" advisories to foreign and local carriers "to draw [the] attention of airline operators and urge them to evaluate the flight safety risks".