Airspace not opened up for Qatar Airways: Government

Manama : Bahrain yesterday denied opening its airspace to Qatar Airways as claimed by an international aviation agency on Tuesday.

“News that has been published and circulated about the Kingdom of Bahrain opening its airspace to Qatar Airways as of yesterday (Tuesday) is incorrect and contrary to reality,” the Civil Aviation Affairs at the Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry said in a statement issued here yesterday.

“In reference to the news in some media and social networking sites, regarding the Kingdom of Bahrain opening its airspace to Qatar Airways as of yesterday, the Civil Aviation Affairs would like to confirm that what was published and circulated in this regard is incorrect and contrary to reality, as the national airspace of the Kingdom is closed on aircraft owned and registered in the State of Qatar,” the statement read. 

The statement came in reply to the claims of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). ICAO had stated on Tuesday that Bahrain and the UAE have agreed to open up flight corridors for Qatar Airways.

“The Civil Aviation Affairs implemented the measures taken in cooperation and coordination with the Cairo office of ICAO in order to enhance safety over international waters, which included the allocation of additional emergency routes on the high seas in the Bahrain flight information region to ensure the safety of air traffic over international waters guaranteed by ICAO through its administration. This does not mean at all that Bahrain has allowed the passage of Qatari airspace above its sovereign airspace,” the Civil Aviation Affairs affirmed in its statement.