IndiGo cancels flights to Doha till March 17 amid Coronavirus outbreak

Mumbai: Budget carrier IndiGo on Monday (March 9) said it is cancelling flights to Doha till March 17, following travel ban imposed by Qatar on Indian nationals due to Coronavirus scare. Qatar has temporarily banned entry of people coming from India and 13 other countries in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak, which has infected thousands of people.

In a statement, the airline said it would be cancelling flights to Doha till March 17. "We will be monitoring the situation closely and will share further updates once the ban is lifted," it said.

Earlier today, Qatar announced to temporarily ban entry of people coming from 14 countries, including India in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak. The temporary ban would also be applicable on people coming from Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria and Thailand.

"This decision comes as a preventive measure due to the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) worldwide," Qatar government said in a statement dated March 8.

Flagship carrier Qatar Airways has also stopped flights from India, sources said. Qatar Airways operates 102 weekly flights from Doha to 13 Indian cities, including New Delhi.

According to the statement, the temporary suspension of entry would affect all individuals intending to enter from these countries, including visas upon arrival, those with residence or work permit, and temporary visitors. Earlier, Qatar Airways announced temporary suspension of flights to and from Italy, one of the countries worst affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

Other airlines that fly to Qatar, include IndiGo, GoAir and Air India. 

There was no immediate statement from the three airlines about the status of their flights. 

Meanwhile, Kuwait on Saturday had suspended operations of all flights to and from India and six other countries in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.