I have read lots about Low Cost Carriers setting up in the Middle East, but I am not sure expedia has access to those fares, nor am I familiar with domestic travel in the region, so any names. I would prefer direct flights for this short hop. We covered that news here.I will be flying in and out of Dubai on a BA Miles ticket (will be BA Gold by this time) this Christmas.įor various reasons I need to pop over to Doha and back again, but on the flights are pricing at around £325/US$600 return in economy. The question though to ask is what prompted the Israelis to act favorably to EU? It could potentially have been triggered by Obama request to halt all construction on the west bank. Unfortunately for him, instead of making friends, he has made enemies with the one country that has stood by it for over 50 years. The least to say for US is that Israel has once again publicly ridiculed the Obama led administration which has increasingly tilted to Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia (Read his presidency speech “…we want to make friends with Iran”). But an executive of one of the affected airlines, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the issue’s delicacy, said, “It does appear we’re not being held to the standard of other carriers.” None of the American carriers would comment publicly about the Israeli decision to exempt European airlines, out of concern that it would annoy the Israelis. “The logistics are complex and difficult to keep secure,” he said in urging Israel to abolish the program. “No other country has a similar requirement,” Giovanni Bisignani, the director general of the International Air Transport Association, an industry trade group, told reporters last week. Israeli officials have not announced the exemption publicly and have offered no explanation for what critics say amounts to a double standard on security clearances for European Union airline pilots versus others. The exemption granted to European Union airlines by Israel’s civil aviation director, Giora Romm, comes as Israel is negotiating an air transport agreement with the European Union that could significantly expand air travel between Israel and Europe. New York Times reports Nov 17,2010 report:Īn Israeli security program that requires commercial pilots on airlines from some countries, including the United States, to transmit special identification clearance codes before entering Israel’s airspace will not be enforced on pilots with airlines based in the European Union, aviation officials say. US has responded by expressing its disappointment.

In stark reminder of the impending Israel-EU relationship headwinds, New York Times reports of Israel defense allowing EU pilots to have special clearance, a privilege not even US enjoys with Israel. This time though it is different with EU very trusted on the Palestinian and Middle east side while Israel economy continues to closely leverage itself with EU consumer, thus helping the Israel-EU relationship. US was never trusted by the Palestinians and hence the Peace Process never really moved forward. Israel needs to trust the mediator before it can allow them to act as their security alliance and partner in peace process. It has been speculated for years now that Israel will be in a close deceptive relationship with the EU before EU acts as its protective agent during the last days. In a sign of things to come, Israel -EU moved forward on an important trade item.

Middle east airpass