M60_to_LGA

I realize I'm getting a bit ahead of myself here, but since it's being widely reported both in Israel and the US that Saudi will open up its airspace to all flights to and from Israel, what does that mean for LY? Both good and bad?

On the plus side, it means LY's flights to India can get a lot shorter, which should make them cheaper and more competitive.

I assume Tokyo will actually get off the ground now, and perhaps we'll see China/Hong Kong flights back on the schedule - although I guess that has more to do with China's covid policies than anything else.

Otherwise, would this facilitate opening up any new routes to the east? Manila, given all the foreign workers? Taipei for the tech/military trade? Sydney?

And of course, on the negative side (for LY at least), this could lead to greater competition from East Asian carriers. I'm sure there's a not-insignificant number of Israelis who would much prefer to fly on an airline like Cathay or JAL than LY all things being equal, and if Israel starts to see more of those carriers arrive, it won't be great news for LY. Although that eastward traffic isn't going on LY now, so maybe it's a wash.

If this happens, it seems like it would open up a lot of new travel possibilities. It's fun to think of what they might be.

M60_to_LGA

יאללה

I'm going to seriously consider buying a ticket on the first TLV-TYO or TLV-TPE flights, assuming they ever happen.

flyerby

Opening KSA to LY doesn’t shorten the flight for TYO. LY would anyway go north and not south. TPE is a borderline case. It will help with MUM and BKK/HKT.
Remember that LY still cannot fly over Iraq, Iran and Pakistan.

M60_to_LGA

When you say go north to Tokyo, do you mean essentially up through Turkey and then over the Stans? I guess that would work too. It does look like a route to TPE could work via Jordan/Saudi/Oman, then crossing the water south of Pakistan and heading east over India. I would love that route but have no idea whether LY would be able to make it work. My guess is EVA would probably be more likely to start it, though.

rafi2k6

LY isn't really positioned to launch any significant expansion plans to Asia.
It will make their Mumbai & Bangkok services more profitable though.

I suppose they could analyse flights to Australia, but that's a loooooong way to go, even for a 787-9. It would not be able to make the trip without a payload hit.

If Indonesia and Malaysia allow LY overflight permission, we may see them attempt Singapore and Manilla flights at some point, but I think their priority would be to launch the long-awaited route to Tokyo before trying other markets.

TWA884

That's how El Al flew to Beijing before the route was suspended due to Covid.

M60_to_LGA

Here's a JPost article on the flight time savings:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-...ime-and-money/

I notice they say that Israel doesn't have rights to overfly Oman - but I very clearly remember that a few years back Oman did in fact give those rights (at least according to Netanyahu, which - okay):

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/ne...irspace-573942

TWA884

Alpha Golf

Looks like MS3085 flew TLV-JED on Friday. Assume it was the press plane for Biden visit.

M60_to_LGA

More info about possible new flights:

This sounds interesting:

Quote:

Similarly, Arkia said it planned to start flights to Goa, India, in November and was considering new destinations such as Thailand and Sri Lanka using Airbus A321neoLR aircraft.

I can see Arkia going after leisure destinations in Asia, but Sri Lanka? The country is currently in meltdown. I don't see that being a viable destination anytime soon.

rafi2k6

Did anyone else notice this post on LinkedIn by EL AL?

Interesting that they specifically mention Australia in the post.
Maybe that is an indication that Melbourne or Sydney service is something they do intend on launching.

BATLV

None will overfly KSA. The most economical route is still the northern one.

M60_to_LGA

The article I posted above indicates that LY would be looking to fly over Arabia to get to Japan.

TWA884

The northern route, bypassing Syria and Iran, is shorter by approximately 700 than the southern route, bypassing Iran, Pakistan and Malaysia.

GUWonder

Why would they want to do that when Syria, Iraq (save the Kurds), Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (for now) are off limits? Is Kazakhstan and Mongolia a problem? Given the shape of our planet, a little diversion to avoid Russia on the north way to TYO can’t be as much out of the way as going for a more equatorial routing to go from TLV to TYO.

China has no issues with LY flights flying over it.