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Following the landmark diplomatic agreement signed between Israel and the United Arab Emirates on August 13, El Al, the Israeli national airline, announced that it will conduct the first non-stop commercial flight between the two countries. According to the current schedule, the Boeing 737-900, registration 4X-EHD, will take off next Monday (31), from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi with representatives of the governments of Israel and the United States. The flight will have the number LY971.
Despite the special nature of the occasion, the company chose not to use the main aircraft of the fleet, a new Boeing 787-9. One of the reasons given is the presence in the chosen aircraft of Sky Shields equipment, from Israel Aerospace Industries, which work with a surface-to-air anti-missile shield, which are guided by heat, something not yet installed in the larger aircraft.
The chosen aircraft had been on the ground since March this year and has carried out test flights and equipment verification to ensure its functionality on the 31st. El Al summoned senior pilots for the operation, who underwent simulator training in Amsterdam, Holland, for its revalidation. licenses.
According to Reuters, an official U.S. delegation will be on board, led by President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and White House adviser Jared Kushner and national security adviser Robert O’Brien. On the trip, there will also be an Israeli delegation made up of aviation experts and authorities.
The flight will not use Saudi Arabian airspace, which does not allow Israeli aircraft to enter its territory. For this reason, which requires a longer and more expensive route for the operation, it is not defined when the installation of regular flights with passengers between the two countries will occur (and will even occur).
Despite the historical importance due to the political nature of the operation, this will not be the first commercial flight between countries in recent months. Etihad Airways recently operated two flights to Tel Aviv with humanitarian aid to Palestine, one operated by an all-white A330 and the other by a standard B787 carrier. It followed two operations here at AEROIN. Click on the links and check again.
