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State airline Saudia suspends Toronto flights

The move is the latest in a series of measures Saudi Arabia has taken since its diplomatic row with Canada

Saudia said on Twitter that travellers to and from Canada will not be charged cancellation or booking readjustment fees by the airline.
Saudia said on Twitter that travellers to and from Canada will not be charged cancellation or booking readjustment fees by the airline.

The kingdom’s national carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) has suspended all flights to and from Toronto, it announced in a post on its official Twitter account.

The move is the latest in a series of measures the kingdom has taken since its diplomatic row with Canada.

Saudia said on Twitter that travellers to and from Canada will not be charged cancellation or booking readjustment fees by the airline.

Ottawa this week demanded the immediate release of jailed female activists who campaigned for the right to drive.

Saudi detained activists including Loujain al-Hathloul, Iman al-Nafjan, Aziza al-Yousef and Aisha Almane, and some male supporters, weeks before it lifted the ban on female drivers in June.

In response to what the kingdom slammed as an “interference” in its internal affairs, Saudi on Sunday froze all new trade with Canada and recalled its envoy. It also expelled its Canadian ambassador and gave him 24 hours to leave the country.

The activists detained were accused of “suspicious contact with foreign entities to support their activities, recruiting some persons in charge of sensitive government positions, and providing financial support to hostile elements outside the country,” according to a statement by state news agency SPA released at the time.

The move came several months after authorities arrested a number of prominent Saudi Arabia princes, government ministers and business people in November 2017 as part of an anti-corruption crackdown led by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Also ReadUAE, Arab League voice support for Saudi Arabia in Canada dispute

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