Dubai based carrier flydubai has today revealed its plans to open up flights to the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. Flights will run twice a day from late November following the agreement between the two nations earlier this year.
Earlier this year, the world was surprised by a shock diplomatic deal announced between the UAE and Israel. The announcement was surprising as the UAE has previously refused to recognize Israel. However, signs that change may be afoot were first seen when UAE carrier Etihad operated aid flights to the state earlier this summer.
flydubai launches flights
Hybrid carrier flydubai has revealed that from November 26th, it will operate 14 flights per week to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) from Dubai International Airport (DXB). This equates to two flights per day. As flydubai only operates the Boeing 737, these will be running the route between the two cities. Return fares for the flights will start at $360 in the economy cabin from Tel Aviv.
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The flights will operate to the following schedule:
- FZ 1163 will depart Dubai at 09:40. It will arrive in Tel Aviv three hours and 55 minutes later at 11:35.
- FZ1164 will depart Tel Aviv at 12:35. After three hours and ten minutes in the skies, it will touch down in Dubai at 17:45.
- FZ 1628 will depart Dubai at 22:00. After a three hour 55 minute flight, it will arrive in Tel Aviv at 23:55.
- FZ 1628 departs Tel Aviv at 00:55. It will arrive in Dubai at 06:05 after a three-hour ten-minute flight.
Commenting on the launch of the route, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said,
“We have been committed to removing barriers to travel, creating free flows of trade and tourism and enhancing connectivity between different cultures across our network. Following the recent bilateral agreement, the start of scheduled flights will contribute to economic development and create further opportunities for investment in pursuit of our shared interests and values”
How has this been possible?
The new route between the two countries has become possible due to two factors. Firstly, establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates has allowed the establishment of the route between the two.
However, the route has also been aided by the decision of Saudi Arabia to allow flights heading to and from Israel to overfly its airspace. Before this, aircraft would have to take a long horseshoe route up through Iraq, before skirting around the top of Syria through Turkish airspace, before flying back down to Israel. With the overflight agreement in force, carriers can now fly between the two nations in a reasonably straight line.
Are you excited to see flydubai launching flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai? Would you take such a flight? Let us know what you think and why in the comments!