As relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel continue to improve, Emirates has received approval to launch flights from Dubai to Tel Aviv. 

According to reports by Kan News of Israel, the Dubai-based carrier has received approval from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport to operate flights between the two cities. Although there has not been official word from the airline, the rumored start date for the route is January 2021.

When asked to confirm the new route, an Emirates spokesperson told AirlineGeeks, “The operation of any route requires air traffic rights and government approvals. Once those are in place, Emirates will review market demand and a range of operation factors before making any decision to start flight services. With regards to new destinations, we have nothing further to announce at this time.”

This news comes just a few weeks following a historic flight between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. On Aug. 31, Israel’s national airline, El Al, operated a flight from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, marking an increasing relationship between the two countries. The flight marked the first commercial flight between the two countries.

This is notable considering the United Arab Emirates’ law boycotting Israel had been in place since 1972. Flights between the United Arab Emirates and Israel have to cross airspace that is owned by Saudi Arabia, an airspace that is normally blocked to all Israeli flights.

Emirates Announces Kosher Catering

In another move, Emirates catering company announced that they would be creating a kosher facility in the United Arab Emirates. According to a report by the Khaleej Times, Kosher Arabia is expected to begin production of kosher food in the United Arab Emirates by January 2021. 

Emirates Flight Catering will maintain all food preparation in the new, separate facility, but will have all certification and approval overseen by CCL Holdings. 

“We are delighted to enter into an agreement with CLL to provide kosher food. For many years, EKFC has been offering meals primarily to our airline customers, via an outsourced supplier overseas”, said Saeed Mohammed, CEO of Emirates Flight Catering. “We’ve been watching the global trends for kosher food, and with global trends for kosher food, and with recent developments we expect that demand for kosher food in the UAE and region will grow quickly.”

Although this announcement is not directly related to the possibility of flights to Tel Aviv, it is an important step should the Gulf carrier wish to start operating flights to Israel.

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