Why do planes sometimes take circuitous routes ?

Question

Why do planes sometimes take circuitous route bypassing some countries when they could fly over it and save some fuel. I can understand Indian planes not flying over Pakistan for example, but why do airlines like Emirates (UAE) bypass friendly countries like Qatar and Bahrain to reach Saudi Arabia from Dubai? Does the cost of flying over a country cost more in fees etc. than the saving in fuel?

Answer 1

There are several possibilities. One possibility is Air Traffic Control. There may be established routes and airways which are not direct. Also, don't forget the "great circle" routes, which appear to be curved on a map. These are actually the shortest distance, though they look like they are longer.

Answer 2

Its due to the fact that there are very few navaids in countries like Qatar and Bahrain, and aircraft follow routes set between navaids. Even though they use gps instead of actually tacking these navaids, they must follow a route and have the capability to use the navaids along the route in case the gps fails.
Its stupid, but the gps satelites do go down sometimes, and so does radar, much more often that people think. This keeps everthing working well even if both radar and gps go down.

Answer 3

There are lots of reasons to avoid places, the main ones are weather and controlled air space. You might want to fly over southern Nevada, but you can't, the US government has lots of things there that they don't want random folks taking a look at from the air. Then there's conflicts, you don't want to fly your commercial aircraft anywhere where it might be seen as a target.

Answer 4

Assuming that there is no restriction.....on a sphere the shortest distance between 2 points is what we describe as a great circle, ie a curved route. ( As opposed to a rhumb line...ie straight line ). Aircarft and ships follow the same idea, save fuel and time....and how could I forget...save money...!!

Answer 5

What you are talking about is most likely the curvature of the earth. If you are north of the equator it is shorter to arc in a way. The same thing for south of the equator but arc the other way.

Answer 6

The cost is the reason. The curve is shorter at times.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

It can also have to do with air space.

Answer 9

i don't know