Qatar Airways calls on UN body to declare Qatar measures illegal

The ICAO should declare Gulf Arab measures against Qatari air traffic as illegal, the CE of Qatar Airways said Monday, after some Arab states cut ties with Doha in a diplomatic row. Akbar Al Baker criticised Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for closing their airspace to Qatari flights a week ago. "We have legal channels to object to this," he said. "ICAO... should heavily get involved, put their weight behind this to declare this an illegal act." The UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have signed the convention. Baker said 18 destinations were now out of bounds for the airline. He also criticised Saudi Arabia and the UAE for shutting down the airline's offices. "It is actually a travesty of civilised behaviour to close airline offices. Airlines offices are not political arms," he said . <br/>