US lodges complaint about Israeli emergency flights to NYC

US transportation officials have complained to Israel about its flag carrier having exclusive rights to make emergency flights to New York City, which are scheduled Thursday to return stranded Israeli citizens. The US DoT lodged the complaint with Israel's Civil Aviation Authority about granting the emergency flights to El Al, its national carrier. The Israeli agency gave El Al the bid to operate the flights and additional emergency trips between Tel Aviv and Dubai. Two flights arrived in New York City on Tuesday and are scheduled to return to Israel Thursday. Thousands of Israelis are believed to be stranded in locations around the world after Israel closed its borders to inbound flights on Jan. 25. American carriers including Delta and United, meanwhile, have not been given clearance to fly from the United States to Israel. The DoT said in its complaint that the El Al deal violates an existing US-Israeli travel agreement concerning emergency flights.<br/>