Sultanate of Oman has reportedly refused to open its airspace to Israeli airlines allegedly due to pressure from Iran.
According to a report by the newspaper Israel Hayom on Thursday, Oman decided to keep its airspace closed to Israeli flights, a week after the chief executive of Israel’s carrier El Al – Dina Ben-Tal – said that Tel Aviv would receive official permission from Muscat to use its airspace.
As Oman refuses to open airspace to Israeli Airlines, this move was expected to be made after Saudi Arabia gave permission for the national carrier to fly over its airspace, in order to enable flights to pass directly over the Gulf region en route to destinations such as India and Thailand.
Oman and Israeli Airlines
“It’s not just Saudi Arabia. We need the full route to be approved,” Ben-Tal said at the time.
Muscat’s decision to keep its airspace closed to Israeli flights would be the main obstacle preventing Tel Aviv’s plans to utilize its planned flight corridor over the Gulf to save time and fuel.
Instead, the airlines will have to continue passing over the Red Sea and around the Gulf region during flights.
Israel obtaining airspace access from #Oman remains merely a diplomatic gesture, if #Saudi do not grant the same access (which up until now, they have not).
Israeli aircraft would only fly in Omani airspace for approx 30 mins, but would fly in Saudi airspace for around 3 hours. pic.twitter.com/ZnM8VBnBrw
— Alex Macheras (@AlexInAir) December 10, 2018
Oman is an Arab country located in Western Asia. It is situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula and spans the mouth of the Persian Gulf. Oman shares land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen while sharing maritime borders with Iran and Pakistan.
