All three major UAE airlines including Emirates, Etihad and flydubai will suspend flights to and from Doha from Tuesday morning, they announced on Monday, as the rift between the GCC states intensifies.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways said the last flight from Abu Dhabi to Doha will depart as EY399 at 2.45am (local time) on June 6. Meanwhile the last flight from the Qatari capital to the UAE capital will depart as EY390 at 4.00am (local time) on June 6.
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The airline “will suspend all flights to and from Doha until further notice”, it said in a statement.
Flights on Monday, June 5, will operate as normal.
“All customers who are booked on Etihad Airways flights to and from Doha are being provided with alternative options, including full refunds on unused tickets and free rebooking to the nearest alternate Etihad Airways destinations,” the statement said.
“Any further changes to the status of flight schedules to Doha will be communicated through the appropriate channels,” it added.
In a statement, Dubai airline Emirates also confirmed the news.
“As instructed by the UAE government, Emirates will suspend its flights to and from Doha, starting from the morning of 6 June 2017, until further notice,” it said.
The last flight from Dubai to Doha will depart as EK847 at 2.30am on June 6. The last flight from Doha to Dubai will depart as EK848 at 3.50am on June 6.
Emirates’ flights to and from Doha today (5 June), will operate as normal, the airline said.
Travellers bound for Doha, who are boarding their flight from airports around the Emirates network today (June 5), will be advised to make alternative arrangements,it added.
“All customers booked on Emirates’ 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 destinations.”
Dubai carrier flydubai also confirmed that all flights to and from Doha would be suspended from Tuesday.
“From Tuesday 06 June 2017 all flydubai flights between Dubai and Doha will be suspended,” it said in a statement.
On Monday, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt severed their ties with Qatar, accusing the GCC state of supporting terrorism.
The dispute has intensified over Qatar’s support of the Muslim Brotherhood, and accusations that Doha backs Iran.
The countries said that they were cutting all travel links with Qatar, and also mandated their citizens to leave the country.
While Dubai-based Emirates and Qatar Airways are yet to confirm their plans, there was reportedly chaos in the Doha airport on Monday.
By Aarti Nagraj
