Assessment: Israel will be unable to prevent the flights by Transaero.
Russian airline Transaero, designated by the Russian Dumas as the national carrier from Moscow to Tel Aviv, plans to have scheduled direct flights to the Dahaniya airport in Gaza, "Globes" has learned.
This will not harm the company’s flights to Tel Aviv. Initially, the company will have one weekly flight, taking off from Ssheremetyevo airport in Moscow. Transaero is in advanced negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, through Hanna Seniora, head of the Palestinian Authority-European Chamber of Commerce. Parallel to the start of flights to Gaza, subsidiary company Transaero Tours will open an independent sales office in Gaza.
Aviation sources estimated today that the Israeli government would be unable to prevent the start of flights to Gaza, which is in Israel’s air space, since, in effect, they are included in Transaero’s license conditions for flights to Israel. The flights are expected to receive approval by Avner Yarkoni, head of Ministry of Transport Civil Aviation Administration.
Published by Israel's Business Arena January 4, 1999