Saudi Arabia bans Iran's Mahan Air over safety

Riyadh, Apr 5: Saudi Arabia's aviation authority has said it had banned Iran's Mahan Air from using its airports and air space over safety concerns.

The General Authority for Civil Aviation said yesterday it decided to "stop completely permits granted to Iran's Mahan Air, ban it from landing in the kingdom's airports or passing through its air space," according to a statement carried by SPA state news agency.

The authority cited "violations of national regulations related to safety of international carriers". Saudi Arabia severed all air links with Iran in January after the two countries cut diplomatic ties following Riyadh's execution of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

It is not clear when the violations refered to by the Saudi aviation authority were committed. Mahan Air's website does not show any scheduled flights to Saudi Arabia.

AFP