Saudi Arabia opens airspace to all airlines, including Israelis

On Friday, July 15, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the opening of its airspace to it “All carriers”In a clear goodwill gesture towards Israel, US President Joe Biden is expected to arrive in the Kingdom, in Jeddah, during the day. The announcement de facto lifts restrictions on flights to and from Israel.

Saudi Civil Aviation Authority “Announces its decision to open the Kingdom’s airspace to all air carriers.” It said in a statement on Twitter that it meets the flight’s regulatory requirements. She explained that this decision was made for “Consolidating the Kingdom’s Position as a Global Center”.

In a statement issued by security advisor Jake Sullivan, the president welcomed the decision. Historical He welcomes the fact that Washington’s diplomatic work with Riyadh is paying off. ” This decision paves the way for a better integrated, more secure and stable Middle East, which is vital to the United States and American citizens, but also to the security and prosperity of Israel. Mr. Sullivan sees “Result of perseverance” for Joe Biden’s diplomatic efforts.

The US president flies directly from Israel to Riyadh on Friday, on an unprecedented flight between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a country that does not officially recognize the Jewish state.

Riyadh wants to become a global center

Ahead of Biden’s arrival in Israel on Wednesday, Washington hinted that more Arab countries could establish ties with Israel, fueling speculation about whether Saudi Arabia would be next.

And the kingdom showed no opposition when its regional ally, the United Arab Emirates, recognized Israel in 2020, followed by Bahrain and Morocco, under the US-brokered Abraham Accords.

However, analysts speculate that Riyadh is unlikely to agree to formal ties with the Jewish state during Biden’s visit, or while 86-year-old King Salman is still in power.

In early May, Saudi Arabia announced its intention to become a global air transport hub and triple its annual traffic to 330 million passengers by the end of the decade.

Riyadh also plans to pump $100 billion (100 billion euros) into the sector by 2030, to launch a new national airline and build a new airline. ‘big airport’ in the capital. However, analysts question the ability of Saudi companies to compete with regional heavyweights, such as Emirates Airlines or Qatar Airways.