Bahrain reaffirms commitment to Qatari flights ban

Saudi Press Agency

Tuesday 1438/9/18 - 2017/06/13

Manama, Ramadan 18, 1438, June 13, 2017, SPA -- Bahrain Civil Aviation Authority has reaffirmed commitment to its decision on June 5 banning all Qatari aviation companies and aircraft registered in Qatar from landing at the Kingdom of Bahrain's airports or traversing Bahrain's sovereign airspace.

The decision does not include the aviation companies and aircraft not registered in Bahrain or Qatar, and wishing to traverse the kingdom's airspace to and from Qatar.

The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT) said that with regard to the passage of private and chartered aircraft traversing Bahrain airspace from and to Qatar, non-Qatari private and chartered flights, must submit a prior request to the concerned authority at the General Civil Aviation Authority at least 24 hours, including a list of names and nationalities of crews and passengers, and the cargo being carried by the aircraft.

The ministry reiterates its full commitment to the provisions and of the "Chicago Convention 1944 on International Civil Aviation" and other relevant conventions to ensure the safety of international civil aviation, and the flow of international air traffic over the skies of the Kingdom of Bahrain. At the same time, the Kingdom of Bahrain reserves the sovereign right under international law to take any precautionary measures to protect its national security whenever necessary.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to international resolutions on the fight against terrorism and aviation security, particularly the Security Council Resolution 2309, adopted by the Security Council during its 7775th session, held on 22nd September 2016, in which it expresses its commitment to the sovereignty of all countries, including their sovereignty over the airspace above their territories, territorial integrity, and political independence in compliance with the United Nations Charter.

The UN Security Council (UNSC)'s same resolution also expressed concern that the civil aviation may be used as a means of transporting foreign terrorist fighters, and notes in this regard that Annex 9 "Governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, concluded in Chicago on December 7, 1944 "Chicago Convention," recommends standards and practices related to the detection and prevention of terrorist threats related to civil aviation.

The Bahraini Civil Aviation Authority said that it would exercise its right to impose further measures that could guarantee the security and safety of its sovereign airspace from any threat or risk in accordance with the laws and conventions governing air traffic movement over its national airspace.

--SPA
13:14 LOCAL TIME 10:14 GMT