Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, announced Monday it would start operating daily nonstop flights to Tel Aviv next spring.
Direct flights on Etihad between the Emirates' capital of Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv will begin March 28, giving "Emiratis and UAE residents the opportunity to discover Israel's historical sites, beaches, restaurants and nightlife," the state-owned carrier said in a statement. Tickets are already available on Etihad's website.
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The announcement comes after Dubai's budget carrier flydubai said it would begin offering direct flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv later this month.
Mohammad al-Bulooki, chief operating officer of Etihad Aviation Group, praised the start of scheduled flights as a "historic moment" that opens up opportunities for "trade and tourism not just between the two countries but also within the region and beyond."
