Saudi bans all Qatari planes from its airports, airspace

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said on Monday it has banned all Qatari planes from landing in the kingdom’s airports, following the worst rift in years among the Gulf countries.

A statement from the aviation body said the decision was effective immediately and involves all the Qatari private and commercial airplanes which will be banned from crossing the Saudi airspace.

GACA also said all Saudi commercial and private air operators shall be banned from operating to Qatar.

Meanwhile Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) has also suspended all flights to Qatar, it said on its official Twitter account on Monday, without providing further details.

Other airlines including Emirates, Etihad Airways and Air Arabia have also announced similar moves, while Qatar Airways has suspended flights to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain cut their ties with Qatar on Monday, accusing it of supporting terrorism and opening up the worst rift in years among some of the most powerful states in the Arab world.