A three-year blockade by Qatar’s neighbouring Arab countries, forcing airlines to take long bypassing routes, has been lifted.
Qatar Airways celebrated the lifting of the ban with a direct flight from Doha to Johannesburg, flying across Saudi Arabian airspace for the first time in three years, on January 7.
This evening #QatarAirways began to reroute some flights through Saudi airspace with the first scheduled flight expected to be QR 1365, Doha to Johannesburg at 20.45 this evening, 7 January. pic.twitter.com/wmU7Qq6Mwd
— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) January 7, 2021
The airline had to divert its routes in the past due to air blockades by surrounding nations who claimed the country supported terrorism. In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt implemented the blockade against Qatar, according to The South African.
Saudi Arabia said it would open its airspace to Qatar as a step towards ending the fierce exclusion after years of political discourse.
Qatar Airways could fly from Doha to Johannesburg over Saudi Arabia. Credit: Google Maps
Qatar Airways signed an agreement with its neighbouring states on January 5, and can now fly to several destinations in much shorter times, as well as save thousands of litres of fuel.
Picture: Twitter
