Etihad operates UAE-Israel commercial flight

Our Correspondent

Etihad Airways, UAE’s national airline, has become the first GCC carrier to operate a commercial passenger flight to and from Israel. The historic flight, flown in partnership with the Maman Group, will bring Israel’s top travel and tourism leaders to the UAE.

The flight departed from Tel Aviv on October 19, while the return journey will depart Abu Dhabi on October 21, the airline said in a statement. The three-and-a-half-hour journey from Israel to the UAE will be operated by an Etihad Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

It is a travel trade mission, hence a group of tourism industry leaders, corporate honchos, travel agents, and cargo agents, along with media will come to experience Abu Dhabi and the rest of UAE, at the invitation of Etihad Airways and representatives of Abu Dhabi’s tourism industry.

Israeli national airline El Al had made a symbolic commercial flight between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi on August 31.

The flights between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi will carry commercial cargo sourced from, and destined for, points across Etihad’s global network, in addition to commercial guests.

Etihad has also become the first non-Israeli airline in the Middle East to launch a dedicated website in Hebrew (www.etihad.com/he-il) and English for the Israeli market.

The Hebrew version contains digital content including extensive information on Etihad’s operations, product, services, and network as well as an Abu Dhabi destination guide.