Turkiye, Israel to expand mutual flights in 1st aviation deal since 1951

Baku, July 7, AZERTAC

Israel and Turkiye will expand bilateral airline traffic under a new aviation deal to be signed on Thursday, their first since 1951, Israel’s Transportation Ministry said, according to Daily Sabah.

“The agreement is expected to result in the resumption of flights by Israeli companies to a variety of destinations in Turkiye, alongside flights by Turkish companies to Israel,” it said in a statement. The decision comes after a meeting between transport ministers of the two countries a few months ago. “Aviation relations are a strategic tool for Israel’s economic development and of particular importance toward Israel's regional position,” Israeli Transport Minister Merav Michaeli said.

The agreement comes as Turkiye and Israel have recently been trying to turn a new page, working to restore diplomatic ties that have been strained for more than a decade. The new period was marked by the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara in March.