Middle East conflict: Norway lays on extra flight to China

The Chinese airline Suparna, which began flying directly between Oslo and Shanghai a few weeks ago, is to operate at least two additional flights this month.

China has become the world’s fastest growing market for salmon and other fresh seafood, making up for the loss of business from the United States.

Flights to Asia via the Middle East have been suspended since the start of the conflict a week ago.

Because Suparna is a Chinese airline, it is able to fly across Russia, operating routes closed to western carriers since the start of the Ukraine war five years ago.

Suparna currently operates one flight a week, but now the schedules are to be stepped up. The extra flights should help to ease the situation and more may be laid on if the dispute becomes prolonged.

Avinor Freight Manager Eva Lande pointed out that the Middle East was a key hub for air freight, but added that the number of alternative options was currently limited.

“As flights become longer and more complicated, each aircraft can handle fewer operations per week. Overall, this results in a more complex and less efficient global aviation market,” she added.

The Norwegian Seafood Council reported yesterday that salmon exports to China saw the greatest value growth with an increase of more than 100% on a year ago.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Prestwick Airport in Scotland confirmed that its routes to China and elsewhere in the Far East, a key destination for Scottish salmon, have been unaffected by the closure of airspace in the Middle East.