Air Malta joined other international airlines that decided to re-route flights to avoid Ukrainian air space as a precaution after a Malaysian airliner was shot down on Thursday, killing all 298 people on board.

MH17 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was downed by a suspected rebel missile.

An Air Malta spokesman said the national airline never flew over the eastern part of Ukraine, where the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was downed. Air Malta’s flights to Moscow passed over the west.

However, as a precaution, Air Malta will be completely avoiding Ukrainian air space. This will mean that the flight to Moscow will take about 15 minutes longer, the spokesman said.

Airlines might have to be more vigilant about avoiding trouble spots

The areas now restricted for civil aviation are in eastern Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula. Airspace in western Ukraine remains open.

But many airlines are opting to avoid the area altogether, amid media reports that the downing of the Malaysian airliner could have “profound consequences” for the world’s airlines.

“Airlines might have to be more vigilant about avoiding trouble spots, making flights longer and causing them to burn more costly fuel, an extra expense that is often passed on to passengers through higher fares. They might even be forced to reconsider many inter-national routes,” PA reported.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Malta International Airport said no flights operating from Malta were impacted by the Malaysia Air incident.

“We will keep travellers informed with any developments should and when they arise,” she said.

The incident killed 298 people from nearly a dozen nations. About 100 of the people are said to have been top Aids researchers and activists who were travelling to a global Aids conference in Australia.

In a comment posted on Twitter, European Health Commissioner Tonio Borg wrote: “Saddened by Malaysia Air tragedy and loss of lives. Tribute to experts who were dedicated to fighting Aids who lost their lives.”