Abu Dhabi carrier Etihad confirms first commercial flight to Israel; launches Hebrew website

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways will become the first GCC carrier to operate a commercial passenger flight to and from Israel later today.

The three-and-a-half-hour flight, flown in partnership with the Maman Group, will depart Tel Aviv on October 19 bound for Abu Dhabi.

The return flight will depart from the UAE’s capital emirate on October 21.

Etihad will be using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft for these inaugural flights.

Onboard the flight from Israel will be key corporate decision makers, travel and cargo agents, and select media too, who will fly to Abu Dhabi at the invitation of Etihad and representatives of Abu Dhabi’s tourism industry.

The flight between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi will also carry commercial cargo sourced from, and destined for, locations across Etihad’s global network.

Today, we make history. Etihad has become the first Gulf airline to operate a passenger flight to Israel. And this is only the beginning…

Salam and Shalom! pic.twitter.com/KT66QFfqmg

— Etihad Airways (@etihad) October 19, 2020

Etihad has also become the first non-Israeli airline in the Middle East to launch a dedicated website for the Israeli market in Hebrew.

The site can be viewed in Hebrew (www.etihad.com/he-il) as well as English (www.etihad.com/en-il), and includes information about the airline’s operations, products, services and network.

“Today’s flight is a historic opportunity for the development of strong partnerships here in the UAE, and in Israel, and Etihad as the national airline, is delighted to be leading the way,” said Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, chairman of Etihad Aviation Group.

“We are just starting to explore the long-term potential of these newly forged relationships, which will be sure to greatly benefit the economies of both nations, particularly in the areas of trade and tourism.”

Israel and the UAE have agreed on a deal to allow for 28 direct weekly passenger flights connecting Tel Aviv with Abu Dhabi and Dubai, according to a recent statement from Israel’s Transportation Ministry.

Read: Direct flights between UAE and Israel to begin “within weeks”