Controversy on the communication platforms and a welcome in Washington and Tel Aviv .. Why did Saudi Arabia decide to open its airspace to all air carriers?

The Saudi announcement came before US President Joe Biden arrived in Riyadh from Tel Aviv, on the first direct flight between the two destinations.

The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority said - in a statement via its Twitter account - that the decision comes as a continuation of the efforts aimed at consolidating the Kingdom's position as a global platform linking the three continents and in order to enhance international air connectivity. 1944, which requires no distinction between civil aircraft used in international air navigation.

The announcement of the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority was met with an official Israeli celebration and an American welcome, as Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid welcomed the decision to open Saudi Arabia's airspace, in a series of tweets, saying: "I congratulate the Saudi leadership on opening its airspace. This is a first step. We will continue Work in this field with the necessary caution for the sake of the Israeli economy and the security of Israel and its citizens.”

As for the Israeli Minister of Transport, Merav Michaeli, she wrote - in turn - in a tweet, "Now it is official, Israeli flights will be allowed to fly over the skies of Saudi Arabia. An important step that will make it possible to significantly shorten flight times and reduce prices for flights from Israel to the east." This is another step towards better and stronger relations with the countries of the Middle East, which will make it possible to strengthen the regional ties that are essential to our security and our economy."

For its part, the US State Department said in a tweet, "President Joe Biden welcomes and appreciates the historic decision taken by the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to open Saudi airspace to all civilian aircraft without discrimination, and this decision includes flights to and from Israel."

Social media comments

The platform pioneers interacted with the announcement of the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority to open the Kingdom’s airspace to all air carriers that meet the transit requirements.

Among the comments and responses reported by the episode (15/07/2022) of the "Interactive Bulletin - Your Post" program was the tweet of the writer Hatem Rashid, who said, "Referring with pain to Saudi Arabia's decision to open the airspace to Israeli aircraft does not mean denial or attack. We know the history of Saudi Arabia and its historical stance. , blood, money and politics, with Palestine since the thirties. If we feel sad, it is because of the importance, status and love of Saudi Arabia. The history of Saudi Arabia is honorable and needs to be remembered."

As for Fadl, he tweeted, "The transformation of the Kingdom into an air link platform between the three continents, taking advantage of its strategic location, requires opening the airspace to all air carriers without discrimination and in accordance with international regulations." He added that the decision to open the airspace came in line with investing the available economic components, Including the strategic location, and that national interests are given precedence over others.

While the tweeter Hammoud bin Hamdan wrote, "The statement of the Civil Aviation Authority is a clear statement that does not accept speculation and serves interests in Saudi Arabia."