Doha prevents aircraft from transporting pilgrims

CAIRO - 21 August 2017: Qatar's authorities refused to grant Saudi Arabian aircraft the permission to transport pilgrims from Hamad International Airport in Doha.

“Saudi Arabian Airlines has so far failed to schedule flights to transport Qatari pilgrims from Hamad International Airport in Doha as the Qatari authorities have not authorized their aircraft to land, although several days have passed since the landing request was presented,” said the director general of the General Organization of Saudi Arabian Airlines, Saleh Al Jasser.

Earlier, Saudi Airlines has asked the Qatari authorities to request permission for their flights to transport Qatari pilgrims. They said flights were scheduled directly after the directives of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, the custodian of the two Holy Mosques, after the mediation of His Highness, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Ali Al Thani.

Out of his continual endeavours to help Qatari pilgrims perform Hajj, King Salman bin Abdulaziz has earlier approved the decision to reopen the Saudi-Qatari borders and dispatch an aircraft to Doha submitted to His Highness by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who met Qatari Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah.