Airlines and Pilots Warn of Growing Safety Risks and Increased Crew Stress on Long-Haul Flights to Asia
A growing concern for the aviation industry has emerged in the wake of escalating military tensions in the Middle East, with the Vereinigung Cockpit, a German pilots’ union, sounding the alarm over the increasing safety risks and crew stress on long-haul flights to Asia.
The union highlights the significant security risks posed by the geopolitical tensions in the region, particularly in the airspace over Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. This development is exacerbated by the closure of the Ukrainian airspace since the start of the Russian invasion, which forces European airlines to avoid Russian skies due to sanctions. As a result, many airlines are opting for longer routes over the Arabian Peninsula or the Caucasus, a move that has far-reaching consequences for safety, costs and personnel planning.
According to a Vereinigung Cockpit spokesperson, the cumulative effect of these changes poses a lasting burden that, if not properly addressed, can have negative impacts on flight safety.
Airline experts, such as Gerald Wissel of Airborne Consulting, predict that the longer routes will lead to higher ticket prices in the medium term. Initially, airlines will try to absorb the additional costs through surcharges, but from next year, regular prices are expected to rise, Wissel told the business magazine Capital.