GACA denies allowing Qatari airlines to access Saudi airspace

Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) denied allowing Qatari airlines to access the kingdom from the west.

In a statement on Wednesday, GACA confirmed that Qatari airliners are banned from accessing the Saudi airspace.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council has recently held an extraordinary session following a complaint by Qatar, in accordance to article 54 council convention.

Qatar’s minister of transport had issued a statement attacking the four boycotting countries and described their decisions as “arbitrary measures”.

ICAO rejects Qatar’s request to condemn boycotting countries.

Saudi Arabia has also condemned Qatar's attempt to politicize the pilgrimage of Qataris.

Saudi Culture and Information Minister Awad bin Saleh Al Awad has stressed that the Qatari people are welcomed this year as every year, pointing out that several corridors have been opened for Qatari pilgrims and all their needs have been provided to perform their rituals comfortably and safely. 

He said that the Qatari people who wish to perform Hajj should not believe false propaganda about preventing them from performing Hajj, where the Kingdom, as usual, welcomes all Muslims from everywhere and works to facilitate the performance of their rituals with ease and tranquility.

Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have cut ties with Qatar in an attempt to prod it to stop op supporting terrorism.

Qatar denied the charge and sees the boycott as politically motivated.

Qatar has rejected a tough 13-point list of demands from the Arab bloc, arguing that accepting them wholesale would undermine its sovereignty.

Source: MENA