Emirates maintains normal services

JAKARTA: Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, will continue to operate normally except for services to Kuwait, which have been temporarily suspended, the company said in a statement on Friday.

It urges passengers, as a precaution, to check departure times with their travel agents or with one of the airline's call centers before leaving for the airport.

It also said that it was regularly updating its website to provide information on its scheduled flights.

"Safety remains a top priority ... We are using alternative routes when necessary. They are well-established and recognized as safe by all international authorities. Emirates has never flown over Iraq, even under normal conditions, and none of our routes take our aircraft near the country," Maurice Flanagan, Emirates' group managing director, said. -- JP