Qatar Airways has suspended all flights to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt “until further notice”, the carrier said in a public advisory, posted on the main door of their office at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 (Naia 1).
The suspension came in the wake of a move led by Saudi Arabia to sever ties with the tiny emirate in the Persian Gulf, accusing Doha of funding terrorist groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Yemen, Egypt and the Maldives broke off diplomatic and trade relations with Qatar on Monday, for purportedly supporting terrorism. Qatar Airways said affected customers will be provided with alternative options, including a full refund on any unused tickets and free booking to the nearest alternative Qatar Airways network destination.
For passengers with existing bookings, they can inquire through their web site or e-mail them, and their team will get back to them as soon as possible.
Qatar operates 14 flights out of the Naia 1 and seven flights out of Clark. There are about 1.5 million to 1.8 million overseas Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia; 800,000 in the UAE; and 130,000 in Qatar.
On Monday the five countries in the region announced that they have severed all ties with Qatar, accusing the Qatari monarchy of supporting Sunni Islamist terrorism in the region.
Legacy carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said flights out of Manila to Doha and back to Manila will continue.
“Philippine Airlines wishes to stress that all its flights to the Middle East continue to operate despite the ongoing row between Qatar and a bloc of ME countries (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia , Bahrain and Yemen), a statement from PAL spokesman Cielo Villaluna said. PAL operates 30 flights per week to the Middle East. Seven weekly to Dubai; four to Kuwait; four to Doha; five to Dammam; three to Jeddah and seven to Riyadh.
“While PAL is not a party to the dispute and maintains strong bilateral ties to these countries, it shall observe guidelines issued by said nations,” Villaluna said.
PAL said on Tuesday Abu Dhabi Airport immigration announced that effective immediately, all UAE nationals who are holders of all types of passport are not allowed to travel or enter Qatar or to transit through Qatar airports.
All Qatari nationals are not allowed to enter the UAE or to transit through UAE Airports.
Following these guidelines, PAL said it will not carry Qatari nationals into the UAE (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), or carry UAE nationals into Qatar. PAL has direct flights out of Manila to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Doha. Foreign tourists are not included in their guideline.
“PAL’s Manila-Doha flights will continue, four times a week,” the carrier said in a text message.
Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways, fly to Dubai, while Air Arabia have also announced they are suspending all flights to and from Doha after the UAE joined four other nations in cutting ties with Qatar.
The four main UAE-based carriers said flights have completed their flight operations on June 5 according to schedule.
In a statement on its web site, Etihad said the airline is providing all its customers who booked flights to and from Doha with “alternative options, including full refunds on unused tickets and free rebooking to the nearest alternate Etihad Airways destinations.”
Similarly, Flydubai said it was suspending all its flights between Dubai and Doha.
In a statement, the carrier urged passengers who have purchased tickets to fly between Dubai and Doha, to “contact their travel agent, the Flydubai travel shop in Doha to arrange a refund”.
Emirates did the same thing to its customers.
“Travelers bound for Doha who are boarding their flight from airports around the Emirates network today will be advised to make alternative arrangements,” an Emirates spokesman told Gulf News by e-mail.
Emirates added: “All customers booked on Emirates’s flights to and from Doha will be provided with alternative options, including full refunds on unused tickets and free rebooking to the nearest alternate Emirates destination.”
Air Arabia said it was suspending Doha flights to and from both Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah airports from June 6 onward.
Bahrain-based Gulf Air, took a similar measure, announcing the suspension of all its flights between Bahrain and Doha effective midnight June 6 and until further notice. PAL said it will temporarily suspend flights to and from Abu Dhabi (PR 656/657 Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays) effective July 8 this year until further notice.