Saudi Arabia announced that it would open its airspace to “all carriers” ahead of President Joe Biden’s visit, a move that lifts the ban on flights to and from Israel.
The decision came hours before U.S. President Biden was set to take flight as the first U.S. leader to travel directly from Tel Aviv to Jeddah and could be seen as a step toward normalization of relations between the two countries.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation announced early Friday morning that it had decided to allow “all air carriers that meet the requirements of the authority” to fly in the Kingdom’s airspace.
Israel and Saudi Arabia have no formal diplomatic ties and most airlines flying to and from Tel Aviv had to go around the kingdom. Saudi Arabia only began allowing Israeli airlines to fly over its territory in a special air corridor for flights to and from the UAE and Bahrain after the Abraham Accords were signed. The recent development means flights to and from India, Thailand, China, and other locations in the east can fly over the Saudi peninsula, saving hours of time.
Biden commends historic decision
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan attributed the progress to Biden’s diplomacy in the Middle East.
Sullivan said that President Biden “welcomes and commends the historic decision by the leadership of Saudi Arabia to open Saudi airspace to all civilian carriers without discrimination, a decision that includes flights to and from Israel. This decision paves the way for a more integrated, stable, and secure Middle East region, which is vital for the security and prosperity of the United States and the American people, and for the security and prosperity of Israel.”
Israeli prime minister welcomes decision
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid welcomed the gesture, saying that “After a long road of intense and covert diplomacy with Saudi Arabia and the United States, today we have good news. The Saudi aviation authorities have announced that they will be opening Saudi airspace to Israeli airlines.”
He also thanked “the Saudi leadership for the opening of Saudi airspace. This is only the first step. We will continue working with necessary caution, for the sake of Israel’s economy, security and the good of our citizens.”
