Page 68 - World Airnews Magazine February Edition 2021
P. 68

AIRLINES


                                  QATAR FLIES THROUGH


                                  SAUDI AIRSPACE








                atar Airways has begun to
        Qre-route fl ights through Saudi
        airspace as authorised under the terms of
        an agreement reached among members
        of the Gulf co-operation council and Egypt


        that eased the airspace restrictions they
        imposed on Qatar in 2017.



         The first flight left Doha for Johannes-
        burg, South Africa and the airline said in a
        tweet just ahead of a statement from the


        International Civil Aviation Organisation

        (ICAO) that welcomed the deal.
         The agreement, brokered by the US and
        Kuwait and reached during the GCC annual

        summit, lifts the economic and diplomat-
        ic boycott imposed on Qatar by Saudi

        Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt
        and Bahrain and allows Qatar Airways to   aviation safety, security, and sustainability.”



        resume normal flight operations over those   Imposed ostensibly in response to   cated access to Africa.

        countries.                         Qatar’s alleged support of Islamic ex-  For its part, ICAO established contingency


         “This resolution to the former Gulf   tremists and Iran, the restrictions forced   routes through its regional office in Cairo to




        airspace restrictions will help assure that   the Qatari flag carrier to reroute flights   ensure safe and regular international flights
        the important socio-economic benefits of   to many of its international destinations   in and out of the gas-rich Gulf state.





        international air connectivity can be better   through Iranian airspace, often resulting   “We were grateful to fulfil this important

        optimised among all the countries con-  in significant increases in block time and   role when called upon and to help assure

        cerned,” said council president Salvatore   fuel consumption. On flights to points   that international air transport in the af-
        Sciacchitano.                      east and south of Doha, the airline had   fected areas remained as safe, secure, and



         “ICAO's role is to work with and among   to make minor detours over the Strait of   efficient as possible while the restrictions
        sovereign states to ensure more open skies   Hormuz to avoid UAE airspace, while the   were in force,” said ICAO secretary general
        globally, and continuously improving levels of   inability to fly over Saudi Arabia compli-  Fang Liu. Q

                 NEWS
                                         A TRIO OF 777
                                           FREIGHTERS
                                             Qatar Airways Cargo now operates 24   like Qatar Airways Cargo as fewer stops
                                             of this airplane models along with two   reduce landing fees, congestion, cargo

                  hree Boeing 777 freighters   747-8 Freighters.             handling costs and delivery times.

            Thave been delivered to Qatar     "These new freighters inject more   Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president,

            Airways Cargo – marking the 200th 777   capacity in the market and enables us to   commercial sales and marketing, The

            Freighter to be delivered.       support the logistics around the COVID-19   Boeing Company, said "We deeply ap-

             The triple delivery comes as air   vaccination," said Qatar Airways group   preciate our long-standing partnership


            freight is playing a pivotal role amid the   chief executive Akbar Al Baker.   with Qatar Airways and their confidence

            COVID-19 pandemic – including trans-  The 777 Freighter can fly 4,970 nau-  in the 777 freighters as the backbone


            porting newly approved vaccines – and   tical miles (9,200 kms) and carry a pay-  of their expansive global air cargo

            is projected to increase more than 4%   load of 224,900 pounds (102,010 kg).   operations."
            over the next two decades.        The airplane's long range translates   The 777 Freighter is now Boeing's top

             With the arrival of the trio means   into significant savings for operators   selling freighter. Q
                                                 World Airnews | February 2021
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