Israeli Airline Forced to Rethink Route Network After Oman Refuses to Give Access to its Airspace

The Israeli airline Arkia has been compelled to cancel a brand new path to Goa within the South West of India as a result of the Sultanate of Oman remains to be refusing to open up its airspace to Israeli carriers.

Arkia had hoped that Oman would rapidly comply with Saudi Arabia which introduced a landmark choice to open its airspace to Israeli airline overflights throughout President Biden’s go to to the Kingdom in July.

As a substitute, months later, there may be nonetheless no affirmation of when or even when Oman will open its airspace to Israeli jets. With out Oman additionally opening its airspace, the choice by Saudi Arabia to permit overflights is subsequent to ineffective.

Arkia had already deliberate a brand new path to Goa based mostly on the idea that Oman was going to permit Israeli overflights. The direct route requires plane to fly throughout Saudi and Omani airspace earlier than crossing the Arabian sea.

With out entry to Saudi airspace, Israeli plane hoping to fly to India should fly an extended circuitous route round Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Arkia had hoped to function its new Airbus A321 plane on the route, however the service has now written to passengers with booked tickets to inform them that the flights gained’t be going forward.

Indian carriers together with Air India do have permission to function flights between India and Israel by way of Omani airspace giving these airways a aggressive benefit in each flight time and working price.

In 2018, Israeli airways protested the choice by their authorities to permit Indian airways to function these shorter routes whereas they needed to keep away from Saudi and Omani airspace.

Relations between Israel and regional neighbours had been reworked in 2020 when the UAE and Bahrain normalised diplomatic relations with Israel. Saudi Arabia initially allowed overflights for direct flights between Israel and the UAE earlier than eradicating all restrictions earlier this yr.

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