Home News Philippines in talks with Saudi for overfly rights for direct route to Israel: reports

Philippines in talks with Saudi for overfly rights for direct route to Israel: reports

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Philippines in talks with Saudi for overfly rights for direct route to Israel: reports
Philippine Airlines passenger planes are parked at the carrier's terminal at the Manila International Airport Thursday April 12, 2012, in Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines. The country is closely monitoring the planned rocket launch by North Korea allegedly carrying a satellite between April 12-16, 2012 with the nation's flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, planning to reroute at least ten of its international flights. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Philippines in talks with Saudi for overfly rights for direct route to Israel: reports

The Philippine government is said to be in talks with Saudi Arabia for the rights to fly through its airspace on a direct flight path to Israel, local Philippine media reports said Wednesday.

The negotiations are underway ahead of the anticipated launch of direct Manila-Tel Aviv flights by the state-owned Philippine Airlines this year, the reports said.

“We have rights already as far as Israel is concerned. Hopefully, we should get to overfly Saudi Arabia to Israel,” Philippine Transportation Undersecretary Manuel Tamayo was quoted as saying.

He added the securing Saudi overfly rights would shave at least one hour of travel time off of the Manila-Tel Aviv route.

Israel and the Philippines signed a bilateral air services agreement in 2013 allowing the countries’ to fly between any of their cities 21 times per week. But so far, no direct flights have been launched.

Philippine Airlines, the country’s national carrier, is eyeing the opening of direct flights to Israel in time for winter travel season. “We’re pushing for the signing of the overfly agreement by this quarter as Israel is a seasonal market. Most passengers would like to travel there during the cold months,” Tamayo explained.

In March 2018, Air India launched the first direct flight to Tel Aviv crossing over Saudi airspace, ending a decades-long ban on the use of its airspace for commercial flights to Israel.

Israel’s national carrier El Al complained, however, that it was not given the same permissions undermining fair competition between the Israeli airline and foreign carriers.

The company expressed concern that the same permission would be given to other foreign airlines traveling various other routes that currently require El Al to make lengthy (and costly) detours.

Saudi Arabia and Israel have no official diplomatic relations, like much of the Arab world. The Air India overfly rights were therefore seen as a sign of major behind-the-scenes improvement in ties between the Kingdom and the Jewish State.

Source: i24News

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