Three Israeli airlines to launch direct flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv in December

El Al, Israir and Arkia will start regular services to the UAE next month

Three Israeli carriers are set to operate flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv from December. Courtesy Dubai Airport

Three Israeli airlines are set to launch direct flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai next month.

El Al, Israir and Arkia will start services to the UAE emirate in December, announced Dubai Airports, operator of Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central airport, on Wednesday, November 11.

Israeli national airline El Al will operate twice-daily services via a Boeing 787 Dreamliner; Israir will operate six weekly flights with an Airbus A320; and Arkia will introduce a daily service on a Embraer E-195 E-Jet, Wam reported.

The dates of when the new routes will be introduced, as well as ticket prices, are yet to be confirmed.

The announcement came after Dubai Airport received a delegation of representatives from the Israeli airlines.

"There is a lot of anticipation following the signing of the historic accords and both sides recognise the importance of enabling air connectivity as one of the first important steps to realising those expectations,” said Jamal Al Hai, deputy chief executive of Dubai Airports.

“Both sides are keen to open air travel as a first step towards facilitating people-to-people contact, tourism and trade, and, accordingly, our focus at the meeting was to understand the requirements of the airlines so that we can offer them and our mutual customers – the travellers – the top-class experience that Dubai is known for worldwide.”

A recently signed air transport agreement between the UAE and Israel has allowed airlines in the UAE to begin introducing passenger and cargo flights between the countries.

On October 19, Etihad became the first UAE carrier to operate a commercial passenger flight from Abu Dhabi to Israel. On November 8, meanwhile, flydubai operated its first commercial flight between Israel and the UAE.

The one-off charter flight came before the launch of scheduled flydubai services to the Israeli city on Thursday, November 26. The low-cost airline will fly twice daily to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport from Dubai International Airport, becoming the first carrier to operate direct passenger flights between the two cities.

Return fares for flights on the low-cost carrier start from Dh1,600 ($435) in economy class, departing from Dubai. Business class tickets on the same route start from Dh6,000.

A mutual visa-free travel scheme between the two countries will allow Emiratis to travel to Israel for up to 90 days without a visa.