Saudi’s significant push makes India-Israel ties tighter: 1st diplomatic flight to take off today
New Delhi, March 22: After Saudi gave its significant nod; the 1st diplomatic flight set to take off between India and Israel. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Israel considers the new route important as this will lead to leveraging investments and tourism from India to Israel.
Air India’s inaugural flight to Israel is due to take off from New Delhi on Thursday, as the 256-seater Boeing 787 Dreamliner overflies Saudi Arabia and Persian Gulf states, countries with which Israel has no diplomatic relations, the Foreign Ministry said.
Overflying Saudi Arabia will considerably shorten flight times between Israel and India. The maiden flight is due to leave New Delhi at 6 P.M. Indian time Thursday and arrives at Ben-Gurion Airport at 9:45 P.M. Israel time, according to the Air India website. The company said it planned to fly the Delhi-Tel Aviv route three times a week.
The new service was first announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last July, with PM Netanyahu then suggesting in January the route could pass over Saudi Arabia.
After Air India inked a MoU to fly to Israel over Saudi Arabia; Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Saudi Arabia has given permission to an airline flying through to Tel Aviv to use its airspace.
This MoU stands as most significant as Saudi Arabia does not recognize Israel and has banned any flights to the country from using its airspace for more than 70 years. PM Netanyahu informed that Saudi Arabia has given Air India approval to fly through its airspace on flights between Israel and India.