Qatar to fly barred passengers after Trump ban blocked

Qatar Airways will allow passengers previously barred under Trump's travel ban on arrivals from Muslim-majority countries after a Seattle judge temporarily blocked the US President's controversial ban.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab & agencies

04 February, 2017

Qatar Airways is allowing barred nationals to board flights to the US [Getty]

Gulf carrier Qatar Airways will allow passengers barred from the United States by President Donald Trump's executive order last week to resume boarding US-bound flights after a federal judge blocked the move, an airline spokeswoman said on Saturday.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has advised Qatar Airways it can board travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries and all refugees who had been banned under the order, according to a statement on the Doha-based airline's website.

A spokeswoman confirmed the airline would start accepting all passengers with valid travel documents including a Green Card.

Trump suspended the entry of nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, and all refugees in a controversial order signed on January 27.

The ban caught the airline industry off guard, with some carriers forced to re-roster flight crew in order to abide by the order.

The judge's temporary restraining order represents a major challenge to Trump's action, although his administration could still appeal the ruling and have the policy upheld.

The travel ban, which includes a ban on Syrian refugees being resettled in the US, has sparked international outcry and protests as well as confusion at airports as some travellers were detained.