Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid pointed out that “the announcement by the Saudi aviation authorities of the opening of airspace for Israeli airlines is the first step towards normalizing relations with Riyadh.”
Earlier, the Saudi Arabian General Authority for Civil Aviation stated: “As part of Saudi Arabia’s desire to fulfill its obligations under the Chicago Convention of 1944, which requires non-discrimination of civil aircraft used in international air navigation, and complement efforts aimed at strengthening the position of Saudi Arabia as a global platform connecting continents. In order to improve international air traffic, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation announces that a decision has been made to open the airspace of Saudi Arabia to all air carriers that meet the requirements for the right to cross the airspace.
It comes at a time when US President Joe Biden is due to board a plane from Tel Aviv to Jeddah today, Friday, on the first direct flight to cross Saudi Arabian airspace from Israel.
Source: El Nashra