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Emirati family in Europe refuses to board Qatar Airways flight

Sharjah - They were later rebooked on a British Airways flight.

An Emirati family has displayed exemplary patriotism and loyalty to their nation even while on vacation in Europe.

Eissa Al Baloushi from Sharjah and his family were on holiday in Norway, when they refused to board a flight taking off from Oslo. The reason: their journey was booked on a Qatar Airways flight.

They were subsequently rebooked on a British Airways flight to London.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Eissa's wife Ebtisam said they travelled to Oslo from Dubai on August 10 for their summer holidays and decided to spend the remaining part of it in London. Hence, they made an online booking for British Airways flight tickets. But when the family reached the airport on their travel date and completed all the procedures they discovered they would be boarding a Qatar Airlines flight.

"We were all shocked and all my family -- husband, two sons, two daughters and my little nephew -- refused to board the Qatar Airways flight. We contacted the UAE embassy in Oslo, which responded despite Sunday being their day off, and immediately booked us on to another flight for London," Ebtisam said.

She added that although the original British Airways flight they booked was supposed to take off at 11am Oslo time, their new rebooked one would only leave at 6pm, meaning a seven-hour long layover at the airport. "But we preferred to stay and wait in the airport than taking a flight that belongs to Qatar."

"We will never support their businesses by buying flight tickets and we hope all our compatriots currently in Europe take the same steps to support the UAE."

Ebtisam thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE embassy in Oslo for their prompt response, and the support and care provided to them while at the airport. "They kept calling us every hour to check if we needed anything and make sure that we were doing fine," she said.

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com