Saudi-Israel overflight deal in sight as Biden heads to Mideast

A deal to open up Saudi airspace to all flights operating into and out of Tel Aviv is being discussed ahead of US President Joe Biden’s trip to the Middle East, according to people familiar with the matter. Dubai’s Emirates Airline, Bahrain’s Gulf Air and Israeli airlines including flag carrier El Al are currently permitted to use Saudi airspace for Dubai-Tel Aviv and Manama-Tel Aviv routes, but Israel is restricted from using Saudi airspace for any other commercial flights. With the exception of Air India, other foreign airlines aren’t authorized to cross over Saudi airspace when operating to Tel Aviv, even though they can utilize Saudi airspace for other routes. Airlines have been lobbying for such permission, one of the people said. Israel and Saudi Arabia have no formal diplomatic ties. Israel’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment for this story but Yair Lapid, the minister, said at a press conference last week that talk of a deal to expand Israeli access to Saudi airspace was “not without some basis.” The Saudi government’s media office did not respond to a request for comment. <br/>