The Civil Aviation Authority in Sana’a: The closure of Yemeni airspace is a unilateral Saudi decision without UN backing.
The Acting Head of the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority, Aref Musleh, confirmed that the restrictions imposed on air traffic at Sana’a Airport are procedural and security policies imposed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in accordance with its Defense Decision issued on August 8, 2016, which stipulated the suspension of flights, a decision that is still in effect today. He pointed out that what has been circulated recently regarding the desire of “Royal Jordanian” to operate is nothing but media talk lacking official executive steps.
In a statement to Ansar Allah website, Musleh revealed that the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority had contacted all Arab countries since the beginning of the aggression to operate flights to Sana’a International Airport, but these communications did not receive any official response as a result of the pressure exerted by the Saudi regime, which is exploiting its relations and economic interests to prevent breaking the siege.
He pointed out that the Saudi aggression aircraft systematically and directly targeted the airports of Hodeidah, Taiz, Saada and others, and worked to destroy them and put them out of service completely in order to paralyze civilian air traffic and make the Yemeni people a large prison, in light of the silence of the international community, the United Nations and humanitarian organizations.
Musleh explained that the continuation of this ban is in blatant contradiction with international laws, foremost among them the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation (1944), stressing that there is no resolution issued by the UN Security Council that legitimizes the closure of Sana’a International Airport, which makes these measures unilateral and lacking legal cover.
The fact that humanitarian organizations operating in Yemen had to obtain Saudi approval to land at Sana’a airport, and that Yemen Airways was prevented from operating to it, was considered conclusive evidence of the extent of the direct blockade imposed by the Saudi regime against the Yemenis.
The acting head of the Civil Aviation Authority reiterated that controlling air traffic and issuing overflight and landing permits is an exclusive sovereign right of the Republic of Yemen – Sana’a, and that any external party imposing prior approval mechanisms constitutes a blatant violation of national sovereignty.
He explained that receiving any flights, including Iranian Airlines flights, is for purely civilian and humanitarian purposes to break the embargo and alleviate suffering, reiterating the full operational readiness of Sana’a Airport and the availability of all approved navigational and security services and facilities in accordance with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The acting head of the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority, Aref Musleh, demanded the immediate and complete lifting of all restrictions imposed on Yemeni airspace and airports, holding the Saudi aggression, the international community, and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) fully legally and morally responsible for ensuring the internationally guaranteed freedom of air traffic.