Riyadh announced that the ban on flights by Israeli companies to use its airspace is a thing of the past • Tomorrow an Israir flight will depart for the United Arab Emirates
Israir is scheduled to operate its first flight to Dubai
Photography:
Moshe Shai
Authorities in Riyadh today (Monday) allowed Israeli planes to pass over the territory of the kingdom, after a bureaucratic obstacle threatened to prevent Israir's first scheduled flight to the United Arab Emirates.
Last Thursday, the first scheduled flight took off between Tel Aviv and Dubai, the flight was from the United Arab Emirates flydubai company and it passed through the skies of Saudi Arabia on the way to the Emirates.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10 the first Israeli flight to Dubai will take off, an Israir flight.
The obstacle posed by the Saudi authorities was a kind of drama in the aviation industry as about 160 passengers were in a state of uncertainty ahead of the company's debut flight, but Riyadh's announcement put an end to the crisis.
Arkia and El Al are due to join operations on the line in the coming days and they too were dependent on permits to fly over Saudi Arabia.
About 50,000 Israelis are scheduled to visit the Emirates next month, and will now be able to do so.
Israir said before the announcement of Riyadh's decision: "As reported in the media, we are experiencing specific difficulties in approving flights over Saudi Arabia on the way to Dubai. The incident is being handled with attention by senior government officials. We are optimistic about the end of the crisis and recommend you follow the updates." .
The Ministry of Transportation did not respond
