Today Israel and the United Arab Emirates announced they would normalize relations. The news creates a huge potential opportunity for Emirates.
Israel and UAE Will Normalize Relations
Announced by President Donald Trump this morning, Israel and the United Arab Emirate will shortly sign a number of bilateral pacts including issues of:
- investment
- tourism
- security
- technology
- energy
As part of the deal, direct flights between the two nations will commence. Each will will also set up embassies in each other’s nation.
In exchange for the recognition, Israel will abandon plans to annex more of the disputed West Bank territory.
Israel, via a tweet from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has already confirmed the news. There has been no official confirmation from the UAE yet.
A Golden Opportunity For Emirates
With EL AL facing a fight for its survival and currently grounded over escalating labor disputes, the timing could not be more perfect for Emirates to expand its route map.
If this peace deal is ratified, the Dubai-based airline will soon offer passengers in Israel one-stop service to most of the world. This would be a groundbreaking upgrade to aviation in Israel and operate without the Sabbath restrictions that bar EL AL from operating from sundown on Friday through sundown on Saturday.
I fully expect EL AL to survive and remain a local favorite. But imagine 4-5 flights a day between Dubai and Tel Aviv. It will transform the aviation landscape.
CONCLUSION
Israel and the UAE are posed to forge a historic peace settlement. The result will be direct flights between the two nations. For Emirates (and potentially flyDubai and Etihad) this represents an important new frontier and a golden opportunity.
Are you excited that Emirates may soon serve Israel?
@/ Matthew — This is good news, indeed. One of the primary reasons we have never traveled to Israel has been the poor choice of airlines. Maybe that will change now.
EL AL 787-9 looked very nice, though. I can’t wait to try that. Hopefully there will be an opportunity. In this crazy world, who knows.
So is Gene saying he will fly from the USA to Israel via the UAE? Is a backtrack like that really worth it when you can just connect via Europe instead?
@ Aaron — Any day. I would FAR prefer to fly Emirates F or Etihad F/J and connect in the UAE instead of Europe.
And just how is El Al gonna fly TLV-UAE when they have restricted airspace to fly over? EK has no such restrictions.
Like I said, it’s a golden opportunity for Emirates, not EL AL. My comment above was about Gene flying from the USA to TLV.
Israelis will not take Emirates for lack of trust,,They fear for their lives probably.
As an Arab i welcome the peace and i look forward to meet Israelis in person to understand their point of view on why the peace has been delayed that long..
LOL Israelis fly Turkish Airlines. The largest foreign carrier to Israel. So why do you think they will not trust Emirates?
We’ll find out. Will be interesting to see if any nations follow the UAE. I’m looking at KSA…
Who ares about Emirates flying to Israel. The big news is Israel normalizing relations with the UAE.. I wonder how the other arab nations will respond to this and how Palestine will feel.
That’s certainly the bigger news, but not necessarily for this airline-focused travel blog.
Israel is a fascist state created by British & after their demise now supported by USA, illegally occupying Palestinian land. USA imposed ignoble MBS & MBZ in order to remain in power are towing Trump’s line like slaves. Palestine is for Palestinians. One day . Insha Allah
Is it really necessary to post hateful political comments on an airline blog?
You don’t know the truth
The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace.
Isiah 59:8
Yes, but I can’t imagine Israel allowing EL AL getting cut out of the opportunity, unless they can get Saudi overfly permission, maybe a West Berlin air corridor type of arrangement,
Never underestimate the possible impact travel played in bringing about this important solution. As beloved as El Al may be, it has two strikes against it – one temporary, the other permanent. Scheduling restrictions will always be inconvenient and temporary labor problems are not resolving themselves. Israel and Emirates need each other; Win/Win, Fly/Fly.
I will ask the following
1/why this news is announced by Donald Trump. Why Isreal needs an American spokesperson.
2/ during this pandemic ties between Muslim and Jews! There must be a reason.
Finally, why only UAE not other muslim countries and alas! ALLAH bless all muslims
Trump is an idiot but you have to give him credit for that. Actually, you don’t have to give him credit and continue with the narrative that he’s all bad. However, he is pretty bad but not in this area.
Yup
Now that the US carriers are subsidized with billions of dollars. Just like the golf carriers and DLH and Cathay
Let’s just kill the competition
Hello I’m a Jew I’ve been waiting a long time to travel to Dubai but it is expensive for me but I hope I can visit in the future
This is what the Bible says Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Love peace and unity to gulf God bless Israel and all its brothers the Arabic nations around them .long live it’s peace .
If you read the bible israel is the Land that Gods promise to Moises. For the Jews. Thats all
Emirates Airlines is Just amazing — they’ve never been late for me, but Emirates Airlines Change Policy is a little bit difficult to understand. After searching so much about modification policy, finally, I got a solution by {Airlinespolicy.com }. They have crisp, short, and relevant information about modification, cancellation, check-in, Baggage, and Pet policy. They helped me a lot during the harsh Covid-19 time. I am very thankful to the team of airlinespolicy. Visit here to know more: https://airlinespolicy.com/flight-change-policy/emirates-flight-change-policy/