Qatar Airways service lands in Dublin

The inaugural Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Dublin landed yesterday as the airline pleaded with the UN to intervene in the crisis which has seen the Middle Eastern country cut off from its neighbours. 

There was no sign of tension from Qatar Airways officials in Dublin as the diplomatic row rumbles on. The dispute saw Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain close their airspace to Qatari flights a week ago.

Qatar Airways will operate its daily Dublin service with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. CEO Akbar al Baker said it provided Irish passengers with easier access to countries including Australia. A UN aviation body should declare Gulf Arab measures against Qatari air traffic as illegal, Mr al Baker said earlier. He appealed to the International Civil Aviation Organisation, a UN agency which administers the Chicago convention that guarantees civil overflights.