Etihad becomes latest carrier to schedule UAE-Israel flights

Etihad Airways is to open full services between Abu Dhabi and the main Israeli hub at Tel Aviv, from the end of the winter season. Etihad Airways will serve the Tel Aviv route daily, and year-round, from 28 March next year. Its reservations system indicates it will use Airbus A321s on the link. The airline’s decision underpins the new relationship between the UAE and Israel following the normalisation of diplomatic relations, reinforced by the signing of the Abraham Accords in mid-September. Etihad says its Tel Aviv flights will be “conveniently timed” to enable connections through Abu Dhabi to destinations in China, India and other parts of the Asia-Pacific region. The carrier had already demonstrated closer ties with Israel following the normalisation pact, operating a commercial service on the route on 19 October. But a new air services agreement between the two sides has prompted Etihad to schedule a regular connection.<br/>