Saudi's premier airlines Emirates, Etihad retaliate to Qatar Airway's flight 'suspension' move?

After Qatar Airways announced suspension of all its flights to Saudi Arabia on Twitter, it became more of an air rivalry between the airline and the premier air services provided by Saudi Arabia. Considered to be a retaliatory move when Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed their ties accusing it of supporting terrorism earlier today, the Qatar airlines announced its decision on social media later in the day. 

At around 1159 GMT, it said, "Qatar Airways has suspended all flights to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia". A spokesperson further added that she was unsure whether the suspension will be extended.  Qatar Airways flies to 9 cities in Saudi Arabia.

Emirates, Etihad and FlyDubai too are halting flights to Doha, Qatar's capital. Qatar has been accused of supporting the ISIS and maintaining its relations with Iran. However, it is yet to be determined whether the premier airlines have halted their operations to Qatar as a retaliation to Qatar Airways or was it part of their agenda of severing all ties.

Meanwhile, Dubai's budget carrier FlyDubai said that it has cancelled its flights to Qatar due to diplomatic disputes between the country and other Arab countries. Saudi Arabia ordered its nationals to leave Qatar within 14 days and barred Qataris from the kingdom. Saudi Arabia has also closed its borders with Qatar. 

[Read: Five reasons why Saudi, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar ]

• saudi arabia
• qatar airways