Saudi Arabia opens airspace for all civil air carriers for overflying
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As a result of Biden's "persistent and principled" diplomacy with Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom announces opening its airspace for all civil air carriers for overflying, including Israeli ones.
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Riyadh’s decision was planned amid US President Joe Biden’s visit to the Middle East (Credits: AP)
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced on Friday that Saudi Arabia is opening its airspace for all civil air carriers for overflying.
On Wednesday, CNN cited sources familiar with the matter that Saudi Arabia was planning to permit flights to and from the occupied lands.
Riyadh’s decision was planned amid US President Joe Biden’s visit to the Middle East, including to "Israel" and Saudi Arabia, the source told the media, calling the move a "small symbol of the budding relations" between the two nations.
"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.
— هيئة الطيران المدني (@ksagaca) July 14, 2022
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."
Later on Friday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that Biden welcomed and commended the opening of the Saudi airspace to all civilian air carriers, adding that it was the US President's persistence and diplomacy that resulted in this step.
In a statement published on the White House's website, Sullivan indicated that "President Biden welcomes and commends the historic decision by the leadership of Saudi Arabia to open Saudi airspace to all civilian carriers without discrimination, a decision that includes flights to and from Israel."
"This decision is the result of the President's persistent and principled diplomacy with Saudi Arabia over many months, culminating in his visit today," he said.
Sullivan claimed that the opening of airspace "paves the way for a more integrated, stable, and secure Middle East region," and contributes to "the security and prosperity of the United States" and to "the security and prosperity of Israel."
"Israel" welcomes Saudi decision to open air space to all carriers: Minister
It goes without saying, that the Israeli occupation cannot but be thankful to Saudi Arabia for its incremental step toward official normalization.
In this context, Israeli Transport Minister Merav Michaeli on Friday welcomed as an "important step" Saudi Arabia's decision to lift restrictions on all carriers using its airspace.
"Israeli flights will be allowed in Saudi Arabian airspace. This is an important step by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that will significantly shorten flight times and lower prices," Michaeli said in a statement.
Lapid: Biden's Saudi trip "extremely important to Israel"
During his visit to "Israel", Biden told reporters that he and Israeli occupation Prime Minister Yair Lapid had discussed how important it was "for Israel to be totally integrated into the region." Lapid, on his part, deemed Biden's Saudi trip "extremely important to Israel."
It is noteworthy that former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Joseph Westphal, considered Monday that Riyadh and "Tel Aviv" normalizing ties is "inevitable", urging Biden to mend his relationship with the Kingdom during his upcoming trip to the Gulf state.
"I think [normalization is] coming, that's absolutely coming, and it's inevitable. It's inevitable," Westphal told The National News on Monday. 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.
