Dutch Carrier KLM Suspends Flights to Ukraine Amid Threat of War
With the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine looming, some airlines have canceled or diverted flights to Ukraine. Dutch national airline KLM said Saturday it is suspending its flights into the Ukraine capital of Kyiv. It was the the first airline to pull flights to the country.
“The next flight to the capital Kyiv is scheduled for tonight, but will not be operated,” the carrier said in a statement on Saturday, based on reports from Moscow Times. “There will be no flights in Ukrainian airspace until further notice.
In 2014 a Malaysian airliner was shot down over an area of eastern Ukraine held by Russia-backed rebels. All 298 people aboard died, including 198 Dutch citizens.
No U.S.- or Canada-based airlines fly directly to Ukraine. And they have not made any announcements about suspending codeshare or partner flights for tickets departing North America and heading to Ukraine.
The U.S. State Dept. said it plans to evacuate most of its staff from the embassy in Kyiv and the Biden Administration urged all American citizens to leave Ukraine. Canada has relocated its embassy staff to another location in the country. Other European countries are also urging citizens to leave Ukraine.
Russia has reportedly amassed nearly 100,000 troops along the Ukraine border and an attack could be imminent this coming week CNBC reports. U.S. intelligence apparently intercepted messages that indicate an assault could be launched as early as Wednesday, February 16. Russia denies that it intends to invade Ukraine.
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