TripZillaWith effect from 6 June 2017, UAE-based airlines including Emirates, Etihad, Air Arabia, and Flydubai will be suspending flights to and from Qatar until further notice.
Citizens from the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt are not allowed to transit through Qatar, nor will the Qatari airline, Qatar Airways, be allowed to fly through these countries’ airspaces. This might result in an alteration of flight paths, and hence an increase in flight durations from the longer route.
In addition to the cancellation of flights, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt will also be severing all land and sea links with Qatar. Qatari visitors in these countries are given 14 days to exit, while Qatari diplomats are given 48 hours to do so.
The split can be attributed to the increase in tensions between them and neighbouring-Iran. Qatar has also been accused of collaborating with Iran by backing up militant groups in the area. Qatar has since criticised the decision, stating that it is “unjustified” and with “no basis in fact”. Experts have commented that such a decision is clearly aimed at influencing Qataris to not support Iran, hence getting them in line with the beliefs of the other five Middle Eastern countries.
Amidst the tensions, Oman Air, which operates three daily flights to Doha, has issued a statement saying that they will continue Qatar flights. They are joined by Kuwait Airways, who has also not restricted its aircrafts from flying into Qatar airspace.
