Dutch airline KLM, bearing the Dutch flag, has canceled multiple flights bound for Asia due to the recent escalation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Flights originating from Amsterdam to destinations such as Seoul, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, and Tokyo have been temporarily suspended. KLM made this decision as it was unwilling to operate flights over the airspace of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

One flight bound for Tokyo had to return to Amsterdam on Tuesday. KLM has assured affected passengers that they will be accommodated on other flights over the next week.

While some other airlines have rerouted their flights through Georgia or Turkey, KLM cited difficulties in arranging alternative flight paths, particularly with Russian airspace being closed.

The airline has expressed its intention to resume flights by the end of the following week, following the declaration of a ceasefire on Wednesday. Nevertheless, all scheduled departures for Wednesday and Thursday have been canceled as a precautionary measure.

The ceasefire officially commenced at 1 pm local time (10 am CET) on Wednesday, after Armenian separatist forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous region within Azerbaijan primarily populated by Armenians, surrendered and agreed to initiate talks regarding the region's future.

KLM has extended its support to customers who were scheduled to fly between September 19 and 21. These passengers are offered the option to transfer to other flights departing on or before September 28, free of charge. Alternatively, they can request a refund or opt for a travel voucher. Photo by Alec Wilson from Khon Kaen, Thailand, Wikimedia commons.