First time, Saudi Arabia opens airspace for flight to Israel

muh4mm4dib4l (34)in #busy • 6 years ago

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Tel Aviv - Saudi Arabia opened its first airspace for commercial flights to Israel. This is done after Air India inaugurated a new route with the aim of New Delhi to Tel Aviv.

The first plane with flight number 139 was, arriving at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, after being airborne for seven and a half hours from New Delhi.

"This is a truly historic day that is the result of two years of very, very intensive work," said Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, as quoted by the Independent on Saturday (24/3/2018).

Levin added, allowing the aircraft to air in Saudi Arabia's airspace, shortening the time for two hours and will reduce ticket prices.

However, Riyadh has not officially confirmed the granting of air rights in its airspace to Air India.

However, it ended a 70-year ban on flying to and from Israel through Saudi airspace. However, there is no indication that it will apply to Israeli airlines.

Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner enters the airspace of Saudi Arabia in the afternoon on Wednesday, March 21, 2018. The iron bird, airs at an altitude of 40,000 feet for about three hours.

According to the Flightradar app, the plane then crossed the Jordan and the West Bank.

Israeli Airlines will follow the trail of Air India?

The Israeli national aircraft, El Al, issued from the Saudi route, says that Air India has an unfair advantage.

El Al currently flies four times a week to Mumbai, India. The flight takes about seven hours 40 minutes, following the Red Sea route that leads to Ethiopia to avoid Saudi airspace.

If El Al flies to New Delhi, it takes additional time for two hours and significantly requires more fuel.

When interviewed on Israeli Army Radio, Lebin said that his belief that El Al would be allowed to fly over the territory of Saudi Arabia.

Asked if any other foreign airlines would follow in the footsteps of Air India, Lecin said he had negotiated with Singapore Airlines and airlines from the Philippines.