Safe Qatari flight paths support int’l air navigation: Egypt

CAIRO – 31 July 2017: Egypt’s Minister of Civil Aviation Sharif Fathi said Sunday that the nine emergency air paths, which include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain have been allocated for Qatari airlines, aim to support international air navigation.

Fathi said in a press statement that he met with the chairperson of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Benard Elliot, during his visit to Canada to prepare for the World Ministerial Conference on Aviation Security scheduled August 22-24.

The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has announced allocating safe flight paths for the Qatari planes after the Arab quartet severed ties with Qatar, blocking access to their airspace.

The GACA made its decision in coordination with the civil aviation authorities in Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE, according to a statement issued Sunday.

The GACA said that this procedure confirms its commitment to the safety of international air navigation in such circumstances through providing alternative emergency air paths to facilitate navigation and enhance air safety.

This procedure came under the umbrella of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the statement read.

According to the authority, the safe flight paths include one path in the international airspace over the Mediterranean Sea, which will be managed by Egypt’s National Air Navigation Services Company (NANSC) and will be activated on August 1.

All these measures have been coordinated with neighboring countries under the umbrella of the ICAO.

Qatar’s relations with several Arab states have been strained since May 24 over a leaked statement attributed to Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani criticizing Gulf foreign policy with Iran, describing it as “unwise.”

Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad’s recent remarks, in which he attacked Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), prompted the major Arab powers to adopt urgent and strict measures towards Doha.

The Qatari crisis was escalated when Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE, along with Yemen and Libya, announced a coordinated diplomatic break with Qatar. They also closed their airspace and seaports for Qatari transportation.