Just two days after announcing that flights to Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan would remain unaffected, Qatar Airways has today formally suspended its flights to the airport. 

The country’s national air carrier announced that it was suspending its operations to Erbil and Sulaymaniyah from Friday until further notice, reported Gulf Times. The decision is based on notifications received from Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority.

“We hope to resume operations once a new notification is issued by the authorities permitting international flights to both, or either, of these two airports. Passengers should contact their booking agents to make alternative arrangements or call our reservation hotline in Kurdistan,” Qatar Tribune quoted the airlines as saying.

The flights were cancelled after Iraqi authorities said all international air traffic would be suspended from Friday in northern Iraq.