PAL’s Middle East flights continue, but restrictions to be followed

MANILA, Philippines – Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced its Middle East flights continue despite a diplomatic crisis between Qatar and its Gulf neighbors.

“PAL wishes to stress that all its flights to the Middle East continue to operate despite the ongoing row between Qatar and a bloc of Middle East countries,” the airline said in a statement on Tuesday, June 6.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, as well as Egypt all cut ties with gas-rich Qatar on Monday, June 5, accusing it of supporting extremism.

PAL operates 30 flights per week to the Middle East from the Philippines.

Every week, it flies 4 times to Doha in Qatar; 7 times to Dubai in the UAE; 4 times to Kuwait; and 5 times to Dammam, 3 times to Jeddah, and 7 times to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.

But PAL noted that it will follow guidelines issued by the Gulf countries.

“While PAL is not a party to the dispute and maintains strong bilateral ties to these countries, it shall observe guidelines issued by said nations,” the airline said.

These guidelines include restrictions imposed by the UAE. Abu Dhabi Airport Immigration (ADAI) had announced on Tuesday that effective immediately:

• All UAE nationals are not allowed to travel to or enter Qatar or to transit through Qatar airports
• All Qatari nationals are not allowed to travel to or enter the UAE or to transit through UAE airports

“In light of these guidelines, Philippine Airlines shall not carry Qatari nationals into the UAE (Abu Dhabi / Dubai) and shall not carry UAE nationals into Qatar (Doha),” PAL said.

PAL has direct Manila-Abu Dhabi, Manila-Dubai, and Manila-Doha flights.

Starting Tuesday, Saudi Arabia and its allies banned all flights to and from Qatar and ordered Qatari citizens to leave within 14 days. The Gulf states also banned Qatari flights from their airspace.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has suspended deployment of workers to Qatar in light of the diplomatic crisis. – Rappler.com