First commercial flight from UAE to Israel lands in Tel Aviv
Etihad Airways flew to Tel Aviv to bring an Israeli delegation back to Abu Dhabi for trade and tourism talks. Israel and the UAE continue to further ties after normalizing relations in September.
The first commercial plane flying from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Israel landed in Tel Aviv today. The Etihad Airways flight is the latest sign of strengthening ties between the two countries after their historic normalization agreement in September.
Etihad Airways flew to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on Monday. The Abu Dhabi-based airline flight was the first from a Gulf country to the Jewish state.
The plane departed Abu Dhabi International Airport on Monday for Tel Aviv. The same day, it brought a delegation of Israelis working in tourism and cargo back to the Emirati capital for a trade mission. They will return to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Etihad Airways said in a press release.
“Today’s flight is a historic opportunity for the development of strong partnerships here in the UAE, and in Israel,” said Etihad’s chairman Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei. "We are just starting to explore the long-term potential of these newly forged relationships.”
