NEW DELHI: Saudi Arabia has allowed Air India to use its airspace forflights between Delhi and Tel Aviv Israeli, PTI has reported.
However, there has not been an official confirmation from either theministry of civil aviation here or Air India.
According to a spokesperson of the airline, the national carrier has soughtpermission from regulatory body DGCA for thrice-a-week flight servicesbetween Delhi and Tel Aviv from March, which is awaited.
Another Air India official said the airline is also waiting for slots atDelhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport and Tel Aviv’s Ben GurionInternational Airport.
Many Arab and Islamic nations do not recognise Israel and, therefore,disallow airlines from using their airspace for flight services to thatcountry.
According to the official, an approval from Saudi Arabia to use itsairspace will allow Air India to take a shorter route by flying overAhmedabad, Muscat, Saudi Arabia and then land at Tel Aviv.
This route will lead to a shorter flight duration between the two cities bytwo and a half hours and save fuel costs, the official said.
As of now, Israel’s El Al flights between Tel Aviv and Mumbai take aseven-hour circuitous route and fly over the Red Sea, the Gulflink> of Aden and then enter India andavoid countries that are on the direct flight path such as Saudi Arabia,UAE, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Due to route overflying issues Air India was earlier also examining thepossibility of operating flights from Mumbai to Tel Aviv.
Israel’s tourism ministry has announced a one-time grant of 750,000 eurosto Air India for flight operations. – PTI