Saudis deny permitting direct Air India flights to Israel

Air India Photo: Shutterstock
Air India Photo: Shutterstock

An Israeli government source believes the Saudis took fright when the story was picked up by the international media.

Saudi Arabia has denied reports in the Israeli media that it has granted permission for Air India to fly over its airspace on its New Delhi - Tel Aviv route due to be inaugurated on March 20. A spokesman for Saudi’s General Authority of Civil Aviation told "Reuters" that the agency had not granted any permission to Air India.

An Israeli government source believes that the Saudi authorities had given Air India permission after protracted negotiations but then took fright when the story was picked up by the international media. The Saudis then backtracked on their initial decision, fearing that such permission would be interpreted as Saudi Arabia and Israel forming ties. Neighboring Gulf states also probably had something to say on the matter.

Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation did confirm that Air India had submitted a request to fly over Saudi airspace en route to Israel. Flying over Saudi Arabia would cut two hours off the New Delhi - Tel Aviv route.

Air India is due to launch thrice weekly flights between Tel Aviv and New Delhi from March 20. The Israeli government is paying Air India a €750,000 grant to operate the flights.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 7, 2018

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2018

Air India Photo: Shutterstock
Air India Photo: Shutterstock
Israeli startup gems 2022 Globes names Finout "Most Promising Startup of 2025"

Cloud cost management solutions company Finout tops the list of Israeli startups most likely to succeed named by 80 local and foreign funds.

Mobileye CEO Amnon Shashua credit: Heinz Troll European Patent Office Mobileye posts strong Q1, reaffirms guidance despite tariffs

The Israeli advanced driving assistance systems company beat analysts' expectations on revenue and met expectations on non-GAAP net profit.

Xtend drones credit: Xtend Sentrycs teams with Xtend to strengthen drone security

The aim of the all-Israeli collaboration is to create a synergy of proven capabilities in a world where drones have become a major threat.

Intel Haifa  credit: Shutterstock Intel layoffs in Israel will benefit rivals

Industry experts agree that Intel staff dismissed in Israel will have no trouble finding work at rivals like Nvidia, as happened during last year's layoffs.

Ministry of Finance Jerusalem credit: Shutterstock Treasury sees Trump's tariffs cutting Israel's GDP growth

Amid the uncertainty that still surrounds the level of tariffs that would ultimately be imposed on Israeli goods, the annual damage to growth is estimated by the Finance Ministry at less than 0.5% of GDP.

French President Emmanuel Macron at the Paris Air Show in 2023 credit: Reuters Israel to scale down Paris Air Show presence

Due to President Emmanuel Macron's antagonism, Israel is reducing its presence at the exhibition, Ministry of Defense International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT) head Yair Kulas tells "Globes."

Jerusalem court cmplex credit: Zarhy Architects Tenders issued for two huge Jerusalem construction projects

The PFI tenders for the Gan Hotzvim tech campus and the courts complex include grants of NIS 1.7 billion for the winning bidders.

Israel Innovation Authority CEO Dror Bin Innovation Authority chief: Israel top for deep tech investment

Dror Bin told the Globes TECH IL conference that deep tech is the next wave for global tech and the rate of investment in Israel is the world's highest.

Gil Shwed and Nadav Zafrir credit: Menash Cohen With new CEO Check Point beats analysts in Q1

Revenue rose 6.5% and GAAP net profit rose 5% in Nadav Zafrir's first full quarter at the helm.

Tel Aviv light rail credit: Yossi Cohen Rishon Lezion to finance Red Line light rail extension

The Rishon Lezion Municipality will pay for part of the extension by marketing land above the planned underground depot.

Intel Haifa development center credit: Shutterstock Intel to cut 20% of workforce - report

"Bloomberg" reports that new CEO Lip-Bu Tan will announce the layoffs this week.

Healthee team credit: Healthee PR AI healthcare costs management co Healthee raises $50m

Healthee’s benefits and care navigation platform empowers employees and employers to make the most of their health benefits.

Former Shufersal CEO Itzik Abercohen credit: Eyal Izhar Competition Authority summons former Shufersal CEO to hearing

According to the indictment, Shufersal and Itzik Abercohen allegedly made public statements through which he attempted to reach arrangements to raise prices.

Reco founders Ofer Klein, Gal Nakash, and Tal Shapira credit: Elegant Photographics Israeli SaaS security co Reco raises $25m

The Tel Aviv-based company has developed a comprehensive application discovery engine capable of identifying and classifying over 50,000 applications, and providing visibility into an organization’s SaaS ecosystem.

Tel Aviv Stock Exchange credit: Tali Bogdanovsky TASE outperforms global markets in 2025

Boosted by the strong results of Israel's banks, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange has demonstrated impressive resilience to domestic and foreign upheavals.

Metro credit: Bar Lavi Can Hyundai fill Metro vacuum created by China's exclusion?

The South Korean giant is reportedly eager to enter Israel's infrastructure sector but may not have the resources to dig the Metro tunnels.

Twitter Facebook Linkedin RSS Newsletters גלובס Israel Business Conference 2018