Complying with the provisions of the Chicago Convention of 1944, Oman’s Civil Aviation Authority announced today it would implement the international requirements of non-discrimination of civil aircraft of all countries of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
This new provision opens its airspace to all civilian air carriers, tacitly allowing Israeli airlines and air carriers that travel to Israel to use its airspace.
In August, Saudi Arabia, which like Oman does not have official diplomatic relations with Israel, opened its airspace to planes owned by or traveling to Israel. Oman, located at the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, borders Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The announcement came after months of talks between Israel’s Foreign Ministry and authorities in Oman, according to reports. Following the announcement, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, thanked Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said for his help in advancing the decision, calling it “an historic and significant decision for the Israeli economy and the Israeli traveler.”
While Israelis celebrated the move, some Omanis responded to the announcement on social media saying they were outraged by the decision and decrying it as another step toward normalization.
