An Arkia plane takes off in the airport of the southern Israeli city of Eilat, on February 15, 2018. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
Israeli aviation officials said preventing the carrier from flying over Somali airspace was a violation of international aviation agreements.
By Etgar Lefkovits, JNS
After a two-week delay, Israeli airline Arkia said on Thursday that it has received the necessary permits to resume flying over Somalia on its route to Thailand following the intervention of Israeli aviation officials.
The air carrier had been forced to change its flight route to Bangkok since the beginning of the month, when Somali officials delayed the renewal of its monthly permit without explanation, extending the return trip to Tel Aviv by an hour.
Arkia noted that the approval took effect immediately, with future flights reverting to the shorter route over Somalia, and was achieved “following intensive efforts by many parties.”
Israeli aviation officials said preventing the carrier from flying over Somali airspace was a violation of international aviation agreements.
The move came amid tensions between the two countries over Israel’s Dec. 26 recognition of the breakaway Republic of Somaliland as an independent state, and was seen as revenge over the move.
Somalia views the autonomous region as an integral part of its territory.
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