Bahrain’s flag carrier Gulf Air will be offering direct flights between Manama and Tel Aviv starting June 3, the airline announced.
The announcement follows meetings in recent months between Gulf Air and senior Israeli officials that saw both sides express support for the two countries to have direct flights in both directions.
Both countries hope that such a move will allow their respective tourism industries to flourish despite the pandemic-induced global travel restrictions.
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Bahrain FM Abdullatif al-Zayani and PM Benjamin Netanyahu at the signing of the Abraham Accords at the White House, Sept. 2020
(Photo: AFP)
Gulf Air said that economy class tickets are expected to cost $299 per seat.
The decision to launch the direct flights comes after Bahrain, along with the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Sudan signed the American-brokered normalization agreements with Israel known as the Abraham Accords, which U.S. President Joe Biden vowed to expand further.
Earlier this month, Abu Dhabi flag carrier Etihad Airways launched its own direct commercial passenger flights from the UAE capital to Tel Aviv.
The inaugural flight carried UAE Ambassador to Israel Mohammad Mahmoud Al Khajah and Israel's head of mission to the UAE Eitan Na'eh.
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An Etihad Airways passenger jet displays the Israeli and Emirati flags after landing at Ben-Gurion Airport earlier this month
(Photo: AFP)
The UAE has proven to be a popular destination for Israeli tourists despite the coronavirus pandemic and the consequent disruption to global travel.
El Al, Israel's flag carrier, began direct flights to Dubi in December 2020.
Republished with permission from i24NEWS