Following rapprochement, UAE, Israel target direct flights

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is eager to develop direct flights to Israel following the normalisation of ties between the two states. The UAE is only the third Arab nation to establish full ties with Israel after Egypt and Jordan. According to The Jerusalem Post, in addition to establishing embassies and exchanging ambassadors, the terms of the treaty foresee the opening of direct flights between Abu Dhabi Int’l and Tel Aviv Ben Gurion. The UAE is also eager to develop trade with Israel in particular to tap into the Israeli tourism market and to secure access to the Al-Aksa mosque in Jerusalem for Emirati nationals. Sources in Israel’s airline industry told Globes newspaper that given strong interest in travel to places like Dubai, there is hope that regular flights could start within the next six months i.e. early 2021. Sources told Israel’s N12 television that Israir (6H, Tel Aviv Sde Dov) has already applied for permits to serve Dubai Int’l nad has even contacted hotels in Dubai over the sale of vacation packages. However, even with the signing of an accord and the establishment of full diplomatic ties, the start of scheduled commercial services between the two states will still require the consent of other nations in the region insofar as overflight rights are concerned – Saudi Arabia in particular. Despite warm albeit unofficial ties with Jerusalem, Saudi Arabia still bans Israeli carriers from transitting its airspace and has permitted only a handful of foreign operators – among them Air India (AI, Mumbai Int’l) – to use it on flights to the Jewish state.