Qatar Air still crossing Iran as airspace ban limits options

Qatar Airways is among a handful of carriers still flying over the Strait of Hormuz amid ratcheting tensions between the US and Iran that saw an American drone shot down in the area last week. Flightradar 24 showed at least 2 Qatari flights overflying the strait during a 1-hour period Tuesday, with other carriers crossing the zone including FlyDubai, Pakistan International Airlines, Ariana Afghan Airlines and Air Astana of Kazakhstan. Qatar Airways, which said it’s not commenting on the “political situation,” has less room for manoeuvre than other carriers due to a ban on flights in airspace to the west, south and east imposed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE over its govt owner’s alleged links to Iran. Doha-Asia services have little option but to cross the strait, with a flight from Kathmandu and one to Shanghai doing so Tuesday. <br/>