Asia

Britain Suspends Turkmenistan Airlines Affecting India Travellers

With weekly flights from Amritsar and New Delhi to Birmingham and Heathrow, the decision to cancel operations of Turkmenistan's carrier could see thousands of passengers left to seek new routes to and from Britain to India.
Sputnik

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)announced on Monday that it would no longer uphold the permission for Turkmenistan Airline to continue their route over concerns related to international air safety standards.

UK Foreign Office confirmed in a note that Turkmenistan Airline was banned from flying to and from the EU pending the decision over the safety standards.

Turkmenistan, located in Central Asia, provides for a convenient base for connecting flights to India, a popular destination among travellers from Britain.

According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), 800,000 passengers travel to the world's second most populous country every year.

Affected passengers were advised to contact Turkmenistan Airlines to seek advice, as the flights won't be resumed until the ban is lifted or the UK ceases to be governed by EASA decisions.

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