What is reason behind possible closure of Azerbaijan-Israel flights?

Now because of security problems at Baku airport, the future of the flight is under question.

The portal said that last year Israeli Arkia airway company  received permission to operate Tel-Aviv – Baku flight. Representatives of Israeli civil aviation, local and Israeli security services, as well as the management of  Azerbaijan’s international Heydar Aliyev airport held a meeting in Baku on July 18. The meeting revealed some disagreements about safeguarding security of Arkia flights. Thus, the deputy director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel Avi Ben-Hur said security measures taken by Azerbaijan were inadequate, which does not enable Arkia aircraft to land in Baku.

Decision by  the Civil Aviation Authority dated July 20 ordered AZAL to immediately stop selling tickets and suspend flights on the route Baku - Tel-Aviv - Baku from 1 August, the portal IzRus reported.

“We operate one flight a week for greater part of the year,” head of the AZAL representative office in Israel Irmik Abayev told IzRus. “In summer, due to holidays and tourist influx, we double number of flights. And now, in the summer season, we were forced to stop selling tickets. Apparently, now people will have to fly via Turkey.”

Israel’s Transport Ministry told IzRus that direct flights between the countries will not be implemented as Azerbaijan has already been notified, until required authorization is received.

In connection with the situation Day.Az contacted AZAL spokesperson Maharram Safarli for comments. “This issue relates to the governments of both countries. Now negotiations are underway on this issue.”

“I think it is early to speak about final closure of flights between Israel and Azerbaijan. There will be talks and mutually beneficial solution will be reached,” Azerbaijan MP and a member of the Azerbaijan-Israel Friendship Group Asim Mollazade said.

/Day.Az/