Qatari aircraft have been granted access to nine emergency air routes by UAE and allied nations. UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt cordially with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has permitted the routes to Qatari Airlines.
UAE had agreed to permit the emergency routes located in overseas areas to be used for facilitating the air navigation and flight safety, under the ICAO co-coordination and oversee agreements.
An ICAO spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that the flight corridors which include both existing as well as new “temporary or contingency” routes were permitted for Qatar based airlines.
An online news source reported that the nine routes include a route over the Mediterranean managed by Aviation Authority Egypt was granted to the Qatari Airlines. The route began air operation in August and a Notice to Airmen – or NOTAM – has already been issued for the route and others are agreed upon the existing air path over the Arabian Gulf.
ICAO had been working with the UAE and other Qatar neighboring countries since last month to facilitate the routes for Qatar-registered aircraft.
A press release was conducted on 31 July where Sultan Al Mansoori, Minister of the Economy and Chairman of the GCAA on behalf of the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Egypt reiterated that the states are committed to the principles of the ICAO and will ensure the safety of international civil aviation in the region.
Al Mansoori in his remark noted that the airspace closures have been taken by the four states having numerous cases of precedent in the organization.
The four allied states mentioned that these airspace closures are a legitimate, justified, and proportionate response to Qatar’s actions and are permitted under international law.
Al Mansoori had also responded to the Qatari allegations about the airspace closures constitute marked as a blocked.
The term blockade refers to an action of preventing entry and exit of all vessels to and from ports and from airports, whereas, the State of Qatar’s airports and airspace had remained open, and its maritime ports were fully operating receiving vessels and goods’ Mansoori added. Entire other international aviation traffic has been normally operated to and from Qatar while using the airspace.
In addition, Al Mansoori praised the decision of ICAO’s rejecting Qatari requests which the organization intervened as regional political issues and mentioned that till date Qatar has not raised any safety issues related to regional flight operations.
The routes were granted in coordination with Saudi, Bahrain, Egypt, and ICAO.
