Emirates gets slap on wrist for fares sale in Qatar
Dubai’s Emirates Airline has been forced to scrap its new year ticket sale in Qatar after failing to secure pre-approval for the promotion from the Gulf emirate’s government.
The world’s biggest international airline had slashed fares to more than 100 cities by up to 25 percent for bookings up to Jan 9, but failed to clear the deal with Qatar’s aviation authority.
In a statement to Arabian Business, the state-backed airline said it had pulled the sale within Qatar after the emirate’s aviation authority intervened.
Emirates received a notification from the local Qatari Civil Aviation Authority… to stop the sale with immediate effect,” said Ahmed Khoory, senior vice president for commercial operations for the Gulf, Middle East and Iran. “Emirates… has subsequently stopped the offer within Qatar.”
Qatar media reported on Monday that the QCAA could face legal action over its move to block the cut-price sales, it if could be proved the decision had hurt the interests of citizens.
"Qatar's constitution guarantees the freedom to do business legally and based on social justice," Yusuf Al Zaman Raya, a lawyer and former head of the Court of Appeal, told Al Raya.