For first time, Air India's direct flight to Tel Aviv
The direct maiden flight of Air India to Tel Aviv from New Delhi arrived here Thursday, heralding a new chapter in the India-Israel ties and ending a decades-old overfly ban by Saudi Arabia. Flight AI 139 landed at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport at 2215 (Israeli time).
"This is really a historical moment...We are in a new era. I am sure that we will see many more Indian tourists coming to Israel...and Israelis would also come to India in much higher numbers," Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin told PTI.
He said such a direct link would further strengthen the relationship between the two nations. Saudi Arabia's decision to permit Air India to use its airspace has enabled the airline to take a shorter route. It will cover the distance in 7.15 hours, 2.10 hours less than the time taken by the only other airline that flies between the two countries -- Israel's national carrier El Al.
Many Arab and Islamic nations do not recognise Israel and, therefore, disallow airlines from using their airspace for flight services to that country. On a query over Saudi Arabia allowing Air India to use its airspace, Levin said: "We have to very cautious. This is really a first step -- a very important one... I hope with times we have more and more normal relation with our neighbour in this region .... India played a very important bridge (by introducing this flight over Saudi airspace) not only between India and us but also between Israel and other countries in this region." Terming as "historic" the moment of arrival of the national carrier's maiden flight to Tel Aviv, Indian Ambassador to Israel Pavan Kapoor said a lot of efforts had gone into it over the last two years with a strong vision and support for the initiative from the prime ministers of both the countries.
He said the initiative would strengthen the relationship between the two countries in various spheres, including political, trade and cultural. Air India Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Pradeep Kharola said the Air India direct flight has the shortest route connecting Delhi and Tel Aviv and will bring people of the two countries closer.