April 7, 2021 / Abu Dabi-based carrier Etihad Airways inaugurated service to Israel on Tuesday, April 6. Flight EY598 departed Abu Dhabi International (AUH) at 10.05 and landed at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion (TLV) at 12.30 local time, when it received the traditional water cannon salute.

Those onboard included the airline’s CEO Tony Douglas, the UAE’s first ambassador to Israel Mohamed Al-Khaja and israel’s Head of Mission, Eitan Nae’eh.

Operations follow the 2020 signing of the Abraham Normalization Agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel allowing passengers to travel for business and tourism.

Following the inaugural service, flights EY598/EY599 will operate twice weekly, on Wednesday and Sunday, by mean of a Boeing 787-9 featuring 28 Business studios and 262 Economy seats. Flydubai (FZ) had been the first UAE carrier to introduce regular scheduled flights to Israel on November 20, 2020. (Photo Wikimedia Commons / BriYYZ)