Low-cost airline FlyDubai says it is halting its flights to Irbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdish region, from Saturday.

In a statement Wednesday night to The Associated Press, the carrier says it has "temporarily suspended" its flights after receiving instructions from the Iraqi government.

Iraq's Kurdish region voted for independence this week in a non-binding referendum rejected by the Baghdad government and Iraq's neighbors.

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has ordered the Kurdish region to turn over control of its airports to federal authorities by Friday or face a flight ban. The Kurds are unlikely to comply with his demand.

Middle East Airlines and EgyptAir have also said they will halt flights to Irbil.

Source: Khaleej Times