Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a raid on the Ksar Zaatar neighborhood in western Nabatieh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7

Flights headed to “Israel” flew over Saudi airspace

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 5 Aug 2022 10:48
3 Min Read

After Riyadh has decided to allow flights from “Israel” to cross Saudi airspace, a Cathay Pacific plane from Hong Kong to “Tel Aviv” flies over the kingdom.

  • x
  • A Cathay Pacific Airways (Archive)
    A Cathay Pacific Airways (Archive)

Cathay Pacific and Air Seychelles flew over Saudi Arabia for the first time on Thursday, as per aviation data, after Riyadh announced last month that it would open its airspace to all airlines, paving the way for more overflights to and from “Israel”.

The Cathay Pacific flight took off from Hong Kong and was scheduled to land in “Tel Aviv” on Thursday morning.

The plane flew over the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf before crossing the Saudi coastline near Damman, according to a flight tracking service.

The plane flew over northern Saudi Arabia and Jordan before landing in occupied Palestinian territories north of the Dead Sea.

It is worth noting that Israeli airlines El Al and Arkia are still waiting for final approval from Saudi Arabia to start using its airspace, which they expect to receive by the end of the week as per Israeli Channel 13. Yet a conflicting report by Israeli public broadcaster Kan stated that the two airlines have already been granted the approval, which signals a dangerously rapid entrenchment in normalization practices. 

Related News

Trump eyes Gulf billions, but war on Gaza blocking normalization: FT

US drops 'Israel' normalization demand in Saudi nuclear talks: Reuters

Saudi Arabia announced last month that it had opened its airspace to all civilian overflights, just hours before US President Joe Biden became the first US leader to fly directly from “Israel” to the Kingdom.

"The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announces the decision to open the Kingdom's airspace for all air carriers that meet the requirements of the Authority for overflying," GACA said in a statement on Twitter.

GACA claims the decision comes as part of Riyadh's desire to fulfill its obligations under the Convention on International Civil Aviation of 1944, which stipulates non-discrimination between civil aircraft used in international air navigation, as well as to complement the country's "efforts aimed at consolidating the Kingdom's position as a global hub connecting three continents and to enhance international air connectivity."

It goes without saying that the Israeli occupation cannot but be thankful to Saudi Arabia for its incremental step toward official normalization.

It is noteworthy that former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Joseph Westphal, has lately considered that Riyadh and "Tel Aviv" normalizing ties is "inevitable".

"I think [normalization is] coming, that's absolutely coming, and it's inevitable. It's inevitable," Westphal told The National News last July. Westphal was once Washington's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia during the Obama administration from 2014 until 2017.

He said that Saudi Arabia and the Israeli occupation have been working closely together in technology, cyberspace, economy, and security, hinting that Riyadh and "Tel Aviv" would grow closer soon.

  • Israel
  • Riyadh
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Saudi Arabia and Israel
  • Normalizing ties with Israel
  • International airspace

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
President Nicolas Maduro gestures to supporters during the inauguration of a monument in China's honor on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Maduro warns of threats, urges 'battle for truth' to defend Venezuela

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
Politics

Netanyahu informed Trump before deadly attack in Doha: Reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hold a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's Office, during Rubio's visit, in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Monday, September 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu warns of Israeli isolation, calls to boost self-reliance

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide
Politics

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS