Travel ban by four countries hits Qatar
People gather outside a branch of Qatar Airways in the United Arab Emirate of Abu Dhabi on June 6, 2017. A ban on Qatari flights imposed by Saudi Arabia and its allies took effect as first efforts were made to resolve the biggest feud to hit the Arab world in years. Saudi Arabia and allies including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with Qatar on Monday, accusing the Gulf state of supporting extremism. PHOTO | AFP
What you need to know:
- With more than 30 Qatar Airways flights cancelled to and from Doha, there were neither traffic jams at departures where travellers are dropped off nor lines for taxis to pick up arriving passengers at Qatar’s state-of-the-art Hamad International, which bills itself as one of the most luxurious airports in the world
Riyadh. As a travel ban announced by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) came into force yesterday, terminals and drop-off areas at Doha’s “gateway to the world” were deserted, according to media reports.
With more than 30 Qatar Airways flights cancelled to and from Doha, there were neither traffic jams at departures where travellers are dropped off nor lines for taxis to pick up arriving passengers at Qatar’s state-of-the-art Hamad International, which bills itself as one of the most luxurious airports in the world
Inside the facility, a calm air of weary resignation too hold, AFP reported yesterday. For the greater part of the day, the international media was inundated with images of passengers gazing at information screens inside the terminals. The screens pointed at cancelled flights to and from destinations across the Gulf, including Jeddah, Dammam and Dubai.
As the diplomatic crisis deepened, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain revoked the licences of Qatar Airways and ordered its offices to close within 48 hours,.
“The General Authority of Civil Aviation has decided to cancel all licences granted to Qatar Airways and to close all of its offices in the kingdom within 48 hours,” a statement carried by the official SPA news agency said. Qatari share prices closed down 7.58 per cent on Monday after five Arab countries -- Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain and Yemen -- announced they were cutting diplomatic ties with Qatar. (AFP)
