Saudi Arabia opened its airspace to all civilian carriers, including all flights to and from Israel. This step was taken just before US President Joe Biden tours to the Middle East. After this decision by the kingdom US President Joe Biden fly directly from Israel to Saudi Arabia, Biden hailed the decision by saying this decision will help to build momentum toward Israel’s further integration into the region.
Mr. Joe Biden is the first president of the United States to fly directly from Israel to Jeddah.
According to the sources the Kingdom has set a covert relationship with Israel but not yet officially disclosing. This was believed as in 2020 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly flew to Saudi Arabia for a covert meeting with the kingdom’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, this claim was denied by Kingdom’s top diplomat.
Israeli Transport Minister Merav Michaeli on Friday welcomed the Saudi announcement as “an important step” that would “significantly shorten flight times and lower prices”.
The kingdom’s decision marks the first time it has allowed unlimited use of its airspace by Israeli airlines to fly to and from the country. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has only allowed Israeli airlines flying from Tel Aviv to the UAE and Bahrain through its airspace.
The move fully overturns the decades-long ban on Israeli overflights in Saudi airspace. Israeli airlines flying to Asian routes like India and China previously had to take a detour around Saudi Arabia that added hours to the journey.
