‘Far East Not So Far Away’, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu After Carriers Can Directly Fly to India

GG News Bureau

Jerusalem, 24th Feb. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the approval of Israeli carriers to fly over Oman as a “great day” for the aviation industry as it will connect the country directly with India and help establish Israel as the main transit point between Asia and Europe.

“The Far East is not so far away and the skies are no longer the limit”, Netanyahu said in a statement after receiving the Omani authorisation.

“This is a day of great news for Israeli aviation. Israel has, in effect, become the main transit point between Asia and Europe”, the Israeli prime minister added.

Israel received permission from Saudi Arabia, and the Israeli leader stated that he has been working since his 2018 visit to Oman to obtain permission for Israeli carriers to fly over its airspace, allowing them to fly directly to India and then to Australia.

Oman and Israel have no diplomatic relations.

“This was achieved today, after considerable effort, including in recent months. Here is good news – Israel is opening up to the east on an unprecedented scale”, Netanyahu stressed.

Until now, Israeli airlines’ flights to East Asia, India, and Thailand were forced to fly south to avoid the Arabian Peninsula – a route that added two and a half hours and wasted expensive fuel, local media reported.

With the Omani announcement, Israeli flights can shave off two to four hours to popular destinations like India and Thailand.

Because airlines would save money on fuel, the development could potentially lower ticket prices as well.

Air India has been flying from Tel Aviv to Delhi using Saudi and Omani airspace, which saves time and money.

Saudi Arabia allowed Israeli airlines to use its airspace last year, but because Omani airspace was closed, Israeli carriers were unable to fly to Asia. Saudi Arabia made the decision following a visit to the region by US Vice President Joe Biden last year.