Saudi Arabia Gives Air India Overflight Rights for Its Israel Routes

Date:

There was no immediate confirmation from either Saudi officials or Air India. Mr. Netanyahu made the announcement during a briefing in Washington to Israeli reporters after he had met U.S. President Donald Trump.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Saudi Arabia had granted Air India permission to fly over its territory on its new routes to and from Tel Aviv.

There was no immediate confirmation from either Saudi officials or Air India. Mr. Netanyahu made the announcement during a briefing in Washington to Israeli reporters after he had met U.S. President Donald Trump.

Saudi Arabia does not recognise Israel and lifting the 70-year-old airspace ban would reflect what appears to be thawing ties between Israel and the kingdom, both U.S. allies with a shared concern over Iranian influence in the region.

Last month, Air India announced the planned thrice-weekly flights to Tel Aviv over Saudi soil, but the General Authority of Civil Aviation in Riyadh said at the time it had not granted such permission to the carrier.

El Al Israel Airlines, the country’s flag carrier, flies four weekly flights to Mumbai. These take seven hours as they fly south toward Ethiopia and then east to India, avoiding Saudi airspace. Israel media have said that Saudi overflight routes could reduce travel time by more than two hours.

theclarionindia
theclarionindiahttps://clarionindia.net
Clarion India - News, Views and Insights about Indian Muslims, Dalits, Minorities, Women and Other Marginalised and Dispossessed Communities.

Share post:

Popular

More like this
Related

Shah’s Rajya Sabha Speech Sparks Walkout by INDIA Bloc MPs Including Congress

Opposition MPs staged the walk out from Rajya Sabha...

INDIA Bloc MPs Stage Protest in Parliament Complex Against Revision of Electoral Rolls

NEW DELHI -- Continuing their protest against the Election...

‘So Much for the Friendship’: Opposition Hits Out at Modi as Trump Imposes 25% Tariff on Indian Imports

Congress, TMC, Left demand PM’s response; say ‘Howdy Modi’...

Israeli Soldiers Trained in Britain During Gaza Genocide, New Investigation Finds

LONDON --- Israeli officers have been allowed to study...