(AFP) Malaysia Airlines said today that its flights to Europe and the Middle East would be diverted to stay clear of the military conflict area after US-led strikes in Afghanistan.

The airline "has activated its contigency plan to ensure all flights to and from Europe and the Middle East will fly the safest routes", the carrier said in a statement.

It said the new routes involve additional flying time as aircraft would maintain a safe distance of 1,200 kilometres from Afghan airspace in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization recommendations.

Seven inbound flights including two from London and one each from Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Manchester, Paris and New Delhi arrived as scheduled early Monday at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, it said.