Qatar Airways fights back as CE likens crisis to Berlin airlift

Qatar Airways is considering legal action to claw back the additional operating costs it’s running up after neighbouring states in the Persian Gulf excluded it from their airspace, a crisis the carrier’s chief likened to the Soviet blockade of West Berlin. The airline is keeping tabs on the business impact of its higher fuel bill after the barriers imposed by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt shut down 52 routes and forced remaining services into diversions ranging from 5 minutes to 2 hours, Qatar Air CE Akbar al Baker said. The restrictions have doubled the flying time on some routes, he said. Qatar Air is “making sure that all our business streams are properly documented in order for us in future to go to international tribunals to reflect the pain,” Al Baker said Monday. <br/>