To describe last autumn's rapprochement between Israel and three Arab states as a surprise would strain understatement to its limits. The thunderclap news of the so-called Abraham Accords obviously has implications well beyond the aviation sector but, nevertheless, has already led to a reordering of the aviation playing field in the region. The civil aviation market is already being reshaped and the military sector is likely also to see changes. Suddenly, new routes and passenger flows have opened up, airline alliances are appearing and the remarkable events are likely to open up new sales of advanced weapons to countries that would not have expected to receive them in the near future…if at all. First call for Abu Dhabi-Tel Aviv UAE flag carrier Etihad Airways started daily Abu Dhabi-Tel Aviv flights at the start of the airline summer season in late March - although in common with UAE low-cost carrier flydubai it has currently suspended services due to hostilities that have put the Israeli airport in the firing line. Etihad and EI AI have also signed an Moll that could see joint code-share services between the two cities, as well as on the airlines' respective wider route networks.
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