Asian carriers hit as gov'ts restrict int'l flights

Saudi Arabia is set to resume scheduled domestic passenger flights from Sunday, May 31, onwards following a 71-day moratorium on commercial traffic.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said in a statement that the decision had been taken in concert with the kingdom's health authorities and that all necessary health precautions will be followed. i.e. middle seats will be left vacant.

To that end, in the interests of safety, the resumption will take a phased approach. In the first phase, 13 airports throughout the country will reopen to scheduled commercial traffic namely:

• Riyadh;
• Jeddah;
• Dammam;
• Madinah;
• Gassim;
• Abha;
• Tabuk;
• Jazan;
• Hail;
• Al Baha;
• Nejran;
• Arar;
• Jouf.

Local carriers including flynas, flyadeal, Saudia, Nesma Airlines (Saudi Arabia), and SaudiGulf Airlines have all signalled their respective plans to resume flight operations.

Saudia said in a statement it will operate 60 domestic flights as part of its...

Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi Int'l) carried out its first known flight to Israel on May 19 to deliver medical aid for Palestine, in spite of a lack of formal ties between the two countries, but the Palestinian Authority rejected the shipment, and said it was sent without its knowledge.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) state news agency WAM showed 16 tonnes of medical supplies arriving at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion in Israel aboard an unmarked A330-200, A6-EYP (msn 854). The flight (EY9607) departed Abu Dhabi on the evening of May 19 and departed Tel Aviv later that evening as flight EY9608, RadarBox data shows.

The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) said the aid included personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical equipment, including ten ventilators.

The flight is significant as it is the first known flight to Israel by a UAE carrier – Israel does not have diplomatic relations with any of the six Gulf Arab countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates,...