The ongoing illegal siege of Qatar has seen three neighbouring GCC countries — Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — close off land, sea and air routes by Qatari vehicles, ships and planes.
However, after staying silent for long in a bid to prevent escalation of tensions, Qatar finally lodged a formal complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Qatar’s plea was accepted and the global aviation body called all members to comply with the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and its addendums.
And now, it is understood that Bahrain is set to ease airspace restrictions from today following directives from the ICAO to this effect, reported Gulf Times.
Noted aviation specialist Alex Macheras broke the news in a series of Tweets.
Breaking: #Bahrain ease airspace restrictions on #Qatar, active from tomorrow (following ICAO directive). First ease of #GulfCrisis blockade pic.twitter.com/6elMIzsE30
Breaking: While the first ease of #Bahrain FIR/airspace to #Qatar is effective tomorrow, more airspace scheduled to open effective 17 August pic.twitter.com/4ACMrqzKRx
New NOTAMS (official notices to flight crew) regarding #Bahrain airspace to #Qatar have been entered into the Federal Aviation Admin system pic.twitter.com/Q5OEM1lgXz
Remember that with an initial FIR (airspace/airway) ease by #Bahrain - #Qatar can still choose not to use it, or fly through it etc.
Breaking: Here's #Bahrain's Airspace (FIR) active to #Qatar. Temporary airway, Qatari jets able to fly in it between 4,500ft and 22,000ft. pic.twitter.com/nptkPb3Tdm
Today: #Bahrain ease airspace restrictions on #Qatar, opening this new FIR between UAE & Doha. It's the first ease of #GulfCrisis blockade pic.twitter.com/su4XpOZYXx
In aviation, a flight information region (FIR) is a specified region of airspace in which a flight information service and an alerting service (ALRS) are provided. Every portion of the atmosphere belongs to a specific FIR.
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