Featured Map for 5 June 2017:
Qatar Airways Suspensions

Earlier today, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Yemen severed diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing the oil-rich country located on a Persian Gulf peninsula of supporting terrorism. Libya and the Maldives subsequently joined the diplomatic withdrawal, which also included expulsion of Qatari citizens and suspension of travel between the countries.

Qatar Airways, based at Doha's Hamad International Aiport, has suspended flights to the first four countries and can be expected to suspend flights to Malé in the Maldives as well. (See update below.) Qatar Airways does not currently fly to either Yemen or Libya. Airlines based in a number of the seven countries have suspended their flights to Qatar.

Beyond the suspensions, other Qatar Airways flights may be affected as they may no longer overfly the other seven countries. At the very least they may have to fly longer routes, but the Bahrainian FIR all but surrounds Qatar and losing access to that airspace could ground Qatari flights. For now, Bahrain is limiting transit by Qatari aircraft to a single route.

Today's Featured Map shows Qatar Airways' routes which will be suspended. (Service to Malé has been updated to green to signify that that route is still operating.) Thrice-weekly service to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, will not start on 19 June 2017 as planned. Tripoli, Libya, and Sana'a, Yemen, are also marked though Qatar no longer serves either location.

Updates:

• As of 7 June 2017, QR 672 and QR 674 to Malé (Maldives) and return flights QR 673 and QR 675 continue to operate despite the cessation of relations between Qatar and the Maldives. The map has been updated to reflect the fact that—for now—this route is still operating.

References and additional information:

• Qatar Airways
  • Travel destinations around the world
  • Suspension of Flights to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Kingdom of Bahrain
  • Will all flights to/from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kingdom of Bahrain and Egypt be cancelled?
  • Can Qatar Airways fly over these countries?
• BBC News
  • Qatar row: Saudi and Egypt among countries to cut Doha links (5 June 2017)
  • Qatar row: What's caused the fall-out between Gulf neighbours? (5 June 2017)
• Flight Ban for Qatar Flights in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt – FlightRadar24 (5 June 2017)
• One map shows how much trouble Qatar Airways may be in – Business Insider (5 June 2017)
• Qatar Airways announces new services to Yanbu and Tubuk – Gulf Times (22 February 2017)
• Qatar – CIA: The World Factbook