Don’t worry Australian jet-setters, your Qatar Airways flights from Australia to Doha are scheduled to take off as per usual despite neighbouring Gulf nations banning the airline from their airspace.
This week, Arab nations such as Bahrain, Yemen, the Maldives, UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia cut ties with Qatar over suspicions that the oil-rich destination has been backing groups “that aim to destabilise” the Middle East, Al Jazeera reported.
As a result, Qatar’s national carrier, Qatar Airways, has been barred from flying over these countries, which has forced the carrier to suspend services to select destinations.
Currently (as of 12.30pm, June 6 2017), cancelled services include those travelling from Doha to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt.
This means, any Australians booked to fly onwards from Doha to any of these countries with Qatar Airways will need to contact the carrier to either discuss alternative options or receive a full refund.
However, the airline’s flights to Europe continue to operate as per usual, so Australians booked with the airline to Europe should still be able to board their flight as scheduled.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs is advising all Australians booked to travel to Qatar over the coming days to contact their airline and confirm their travel plans.