Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has welcomed the signing of the Al-Ula summit statement, according to which Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt return to opening their land, sea and air borders with Qatar.
The International Air Transport Association confirmed, in a statement, that this agreement opened the way for airlines to resume regional and global air connectivity, which reduces flight times, reduces operational costs for airlines, and provides essential air links that support the tourism and travel industry throughout the region.
The Vice President of the Federation in Africa and the Middle East, Muhammad Al-Bakri, said that the reopening of airspace with Qatar is “good news for travelers and the air transport sector, especially during these critical times, as the direct route of flights will facilitate the transfer and distribution of the Corona vaccine globally, given Due to the importance of the strategic location of the region and the intercontinental airspace.
Al-Bakri added, “This agreement will contribute to operating direct routes between these countries, which will save travelers a lot of time, as previous flights have seen an increase in the original flight time from 40 minutes to more than 5 hours in some cases.”
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia and its allies agreed to resume diplomatic relations with Qatar and resume flights to and from the country, ending a three-year boycott of the small, gas-rich country.
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