Originally Posted by
Pavel Yudaev
The GC BKK-LHR is above Tibet. So why don't Thai fly to Europe north of Tibet, through China, Kazakh and Russia? It shouldn't be much longer a route.
No majors routinely fly East - West OVER those mountainous areas as far as I know.
Winds at altitude can be pretty horrendous and a forced descent can get a bit tricky.
Though using the winds along the southern edge is certainly common.
Getting far enough north to avoid those problems would probably add 1500 km to the trip.
They would need to pay for that somehow.
And also get approval from the Chinese.
Through the gulf would probably be a better option.