United Arab Emirates’ budget airline flydubai launched direct flights to Israel on Thursday following the normalization of ties between the two countries in a Trump administration-brokered deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the scene of the arrival of the inaugural flight in Tel Aviv following nearly four hours in the air, called it “a moment of history.”
“As-salaam alaikum [Peace be upon you],” Netanyahu said to arriving passengers at Ben Gurion Airport, adding, “Come again and again and again.”
The prime minister said, “This opens up trade, economy, tourism and makes for a truly new Middle East, it is a meeting of two peoples.”
Israel and the UAE agreed in August to establish diplomatic relations – the first of its kind agreement by an Arab state in the Gulf.
Bahrain and Sudan have also agreed to forge formal ties with Israel in deals brokered by the Trump administration and promoted as a strategic Middle East shift that isolates Iran.
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan said in a tweet Thursday that the relationship would foster “prosperity and progress” in the Middle East.
Flydubai, a government-owned airline in Dubai, will operate twice-daily flights between the UAE financial capital and Tel Aviv, the airline said this month.
Israeli airlines El Al and Israir are both expected to launch their commercial services between the cities next month.
Etihad Airways, based in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, has said it plans to begin flying between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv in March 2021.
UAE and Israeli citizens are now able to visit each other’s country without applying for a visa before traveling.
With Post wires
"direct" - Google News
November 27, 2020 at 01:27AM
https://ift.tt/3l7c7J7
Netanyahu greets passengers as UAE launches direct flights to Tel Aviv - New York Post
"direct" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2zVRL3T
https://ift.tt/2VUOqKG
Direct
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Netanyahu greets passengers as UAE launches direct flights to Tel Aviv - New York Post"
Post a Comment