The move by Saudi Arabia marks a small win for Biden as he uses his visit to the region this week to advance U.S. strategic interests, namely an increase in Saudi oil production to temper soaring gas prices, while still balancing human rights issues.
Dubai’s Emirates Airline, Bahrain’s Gulf Air and Israeli airlines including flag carrier El Al had been permitted to use Saudi airspace for Dubai-Tel Aviv and Manama-Tel Aviv routes, but Israel was restricted from using it for other commercial flights.
With the exception of Air India, other foreign airlines weren’t authorized to fly over Saudi Arabia when operating to Tel Aviv, though they could for other routes. Airlines have been lobbying for such permission, one person familiar with the matter said earlier.
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