The South Asian nation is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets where demand for travel is outstripping the supply of planes, but the bulk of international traffic is captured by global carriers with efficient hubs.

Thousands of Boeing employees gather near Seattle to watch the last delivery of the 747, which brought affordable air travel to the masses.

The RMT rail union insists this week's actions are necessary as wages have failed to keep pace with UK inflation, which has hit a 40-year high and is on course to keep rising.

The aviation sector's recovery in Asia is already relatively slow, and the International Air Transport Association warns Beijing's approach makes the picture bleaker.

Conspiracy theorists spread the false claims after weeks of torrential rains led to deadly east coast floods over the past two months, engulfing homes and sweeping cars from the roads.

The aircraft was unique to the world, at 84 meters long it could transport up to 250 tonnes of cargo at a speed of up to 850km per hour.

The biennial event has bookended the pandemic, with the 2020 edition disrupted by the virus emerging from China and the latest show coming as the industry attempts to plot a way out of its biggest-ever crisis.

Israel's Shin Bet security service has voiced concerns about arrangements at Dubai International Airport and says the three national carriers will stop operating there if these go unresolved.

But Russia's aviation agency says rescue operations will be difficult given the geographic features of the landscape.

A search has been launched involving at least two helicopters and rescue workers are on standby.

But passenger traffic, measured as revenue per passenger kilometre, was down by 72% in January from the same month last year.

The historic flight was not publicised at the time as Afghanistan's heightened security discourages high-profile events.