Some EL AL flights are about to get a whole lot shorter…
In this post:
Oman opening airspace to all countries
Oman has announced that it’s opening its airspace to all airlines that meet the conditions for transiting Oman’s airspace. The country claims to be doing this in accordance with the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, which requires countries to not discriminate civil aircraft based on the countries they’re coming from.
By my math Oman is roughly 79 years late, but better late than never, right?
As you may have guessed, the practical implication of this announcement involves Israeli airlines, and specifically EL AL. Historically Israel hasn’t had diplomatic relations with many Gulf countries, and as a result, airlines from Israel have been discriminated against when it comes to airspace rights, since governments have essentially argued that these flights are coming from a country that doesn’t exist.
Fortunately relations between Israel and many other countries in the region have improved in recent years. For example, Saudi Arabia has opened its airspace to Israeli airlines, while Israel and the United Arab Emirates now have full diplomatic relations, including nonstop flights between the two countries.
While neither Saudi Arabia nor Oman are joining the Abraham Accords and establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, airspace being opened is at least a step in the right direction, and has positive implications.
What this means for EL AL flights
I think many people can appreciate the value in Saudi Arabia opening its airspace to Israeli airlines, given how big the country is. Oman, on the other hand, is a much smaller country, by comparison. Nonetheless, Oman controls a critical airspace corridor, especially when you consider that Israeli airlines have to avoid Iran.
For example, below is the route that EL AL has had to use up until now when flying from Tel Aviv (TLV) to Bangkok (BKK). Even though the direct air distance between the two airports is just 4,321 miles, the flight regularly takes over 10 hours. That’s because the flight has to first fly south over the Red Sea, then east over the Gulf of Aden, before entering the Arabian Sea, in order to avoid Yemen and Oman.
This evening, LY83 from Tel Aviv to Bangkok should be the first Israeli flight using Omani airspace, and it’s expected that this will shave roughly two hours off the flight time, so you can expect the flight time to be closer to eight hours. That’s a massive difference.
EL AL has for now suspended flights to India, and doesn’t currently operate regularly scheduled flights to Australia. However, with Omani airspace opening to EL AL, both of these kinds of routes are once again more feasible.
For example, the distance between Tel Aviv (TLV) and Mumbai (BOM) is 2,571 miles, but when EL AL last operated the route, it took around seven hours. With Saudi Arabian and Omani airspace now being fair game, the flight should take just five hours, so that reduces the flight time by two hours.
Bottom line
Oman is opening its airspace to Israeli airlines, which has huge implications for flights from Israel to Asia. EL AL’s flight this evening from Tel Aviv to Bangkok is expected to be roughly two hours shorter than usual.
You wouldn’t think a relatively small country like Oman (at least compared to Saudi Arabia) opening its airspace would be such a big deal, but this is the missing piece that actually makes Saudi Arabia opening its airspace most valuable.
What do you make of Oman opening its airspace to Israel?
I doubt it will happen with El Al, but the opening of Omani and Saudi airspace, coupled with Israel's geographic location, would allow for an excellent hub and spoke carrier to connect Europe and North America with Asia and Australia.
Both US and Europe have Open Skies Treaties with Israel, but its unclear to me to what extent Fifth Freedom rights apply to allow US/EU airlines to use TLV as a stopover destination.
Why would anyone should consider TLV as a stopover?
Or fly El Al over the ME3 carriers?
Unless per tabloids, you're an influencer transiting Dubai, where you did drugs a year earlier.
When are you coming to Israel again?
I have an idea, do a review on El Al's 737
Oman was the first Gulf country to ease relations with Israel back in 1994 when Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin was invited to Muscat. Since then they had a bilateral trade agreement that lasted until the start of second Intifada in 2000. Recently, Netaniyahu made a visit to Oman as well. Perhaps it's just a matter of time we see a non-stop MCT-TLV flight. Quite surprising the airspace opening came quite late.
Oman was one of the first Gulf Countries to establish Israel ties, but is in a more difficult and sensitive position than others due to its proximity to Yemen, which is essentially a colony of Iran to the extent controlled by Iran's Houthi proxies and is therefore subject to pressure from the Mullahs in Iran and also have naturally closer ties to Iran due to the fact that they aren't Sunnis but Ibadi Muslims with much in common with Shia Muslims.
Houthis are only active in the opposite end of Yemen from Omani border, so it's far enough to have much impact. Yes, Oman-Iran relations are quite strong, but that doesn't mean establishing diplomatic relations with another country will jeopardize the existing ones.
"Oman is roughly 79 years late"
Maybe that's what happens when you let Mossad run operations using El Al planes and undercover agents.
Until recently where 'balloons' seem to be better at infiltration.
It’s hilarious how you guys don’t realize that most of these countries were already supporting Israel on the DL before Trump
Thank You President Joe Biden!
What has Biden done???? This all started in the Trump era with SA and UAE opening up and UAE and Israel having diplomatic relations. Biden has had nothing to do with this... I think Oman instead of being worried about Biden is following suit with its GCC partners UAE and SA.
By the way, when Trump was in office, I dont remember there being any war in Ukraine, terrorist attacks, north korea shooting off missiles...
What has Biden done???? This all started in the Trump era with SA and UAE opening up and UAE and Israel having diplomatic relations. Biden has had nothing to do with this... I think Oman instead of being worried about Biden is following suit with its GCC partners UAE and SA.
By the way, when Trump was in office, I dont remember there being any war in Ukraine, terrorist attacks, north korea shooting off missiles left and right, nor do i remember the world being so unstable...
I'm not exactly a Trump fan, but dont try and give Biden credit. The only thing he has done is cause chaos in the US borders and chaos around the world.
"I'm not exactly a Trump fan"
You sure could have fooled us.
The orange clown did more to destabilise the world. He made it acceptable to be racist and intolerant.
Most of his supporters probably couldn’t even find the US on a map.
Staying your no trump supporter is exactly like saying “ I’m not racist, but …”
There's been a war in Ukraine since 2013
Terrorist attacks occurred frequently under Trump in America (remember January 6th for a start)
You clearly don't like Biden but are blaming him for things out of his control...
And you guys really can say you like Biden with a straight face?
Omani airspace has been closed to most western civilian air traffic because of war.
Opening airspace for diplomatic reasons and also because a country is safe to transit are two different things.
And, I'm not sure why LY or other carriers couldn't transit Saudi Arabia, fly over the UAE and over the Persian Gulf before heading into the Indian ocean via the Arabian Sea.
Also, your map shows that El Al went up over...
Omani airspace has been closed to most western civilian air traffic because of war.
Opening airspace for diplomatic reasons and also because a country is safe to transit are two different things.
And, I'm not sure why LY or other carriers couldn't transit Saudi Arabia, fly over the UAE and over the Persian Gulf before heading into the Indian ocean via the Arabian Sea.
Also, your map shows that El Al went up over India instead of over a routing over southern India so there seems to be more about their routing they took than just Oman.
Omani airspace closed because of war? What war?
@Tim Dunn
Omani Airspace has always been open to and is frequently used by western carriers, Yemeni Airspace however is a different story. There is no war over Oman.
Tim,
LY couldn’t route before as you suggest because Omani airspace stands between UAE and the Arabian Sea. Muscat FIR is much larger than just the land mass of Oman. And Dan77W is correct Muscat FIR has never been closed to western carriers and is heavily used by them.
I never said there is a current war over Oman.
in addition, there are countries over which some airlines from some countries cannot overfly because of their own governments, not because the government "underneath" closed that airspace.
ex. US airlines cannot overfly Iran but many foreign carriers do.
@Tim,
You said : “ Omani airspace has been closed to most western civilian air traffic because of war.” which is incorrect on both counts. That is what I was referring to.
Tim Dunn,
Stick to Delta sycophancy.
What war in Oman? There’s been a war in Yemen, which is why most carriers avoid Yemeni airspace, especially when they could just fly over Oman.
As far as the UAE goes, I imagine part of the issue was that it’s too close to both Iran and Oman and that it’s relatively small. If there were to be weather issues or something over the UAE, there wouldn’t have been much room on either side to avoid it.
You seem to be confusing Yemen and Oman.
In any case, TLV flights couldn't bypass Oman without overflying Iranian airspace, which is closed to Israeli flights.
a minor correction, LY83 is the first Israeli carrier to use the Omani airspace. As I type this comment, its just a few miles off the coast of Qatar.
LY 83 is actually already operating using the shorter route. Left at 8:15PM local time.
When are you visiting Israel again?
Oh I have an idea, try out Delta's business class from Atlanta.
Eilat's new Ramon airport is worth a visit. Small but beautiful.
For an AVGeek, all airport action happens in front of the terminal's huge windows. Perfect tarmac views from any spot.
Plus a priority pass lounge that was never reviewed (to my knowledge).
Btw was just in Eilat airport and it is really stunning but the lounge was closed and a lady who works in the airport told me she doesn’t think it’s been open for the last few months.