WOW! Israel Offers Emirates Rights To Fly Between Tel Aviv And NYC, FlyDubai Rights To Operate A Subsidized Base In Eilat, But Will They Happen?
Israeli media (N12) is reporting that Israel’s Transportation Ministry is offering Emirates the rights to fly between Tel Aviv and NYC, as well as between Tel Aviv and Bangkok.
Emirates does operate an extensive network of 5th Freedom flights. Those are flights like Newark-Athens-Dubai and JFK-Milan-Dubai, Mexico City-Barcelona-Dubai, Buenos Aires-Rio de Janeiro-Dubai, Malta-Larnaca-Dubai, Christchurch-Sydney-Dubai, Hong Kong-Bangkok-Dubai, Phnom Penh-Singapore-Dubai, and more on which they can sell tickets on any of the legs.
N12 is reporting that the Israeli offer went even further, offering 7th Freedom rights, which wouldn’t even require a connecting leg from Tel Aviv to Dubai. No major network airline currently operates a 7th Freedom flight.
The NYC to Tel Aviv route is one of the most lucrative in the world, and American and Israeli airlines would certainly protest Emirates operating it via 5th or 7th Freedom rights.
But would Emirates even want to operate those flights? Emirates hasn’t flown to Tel Aviv since 10/7/23, and service on the Dubai-Tel Aviv route is suspended indefinitely.
The offer to lure Emirates back to Israel with flights to New York is strong, given the incredible demand for the route. It would also mean the return of First Class service to Tel Aviv, which no airline currently operates.
Even if Israel did ignore the protests of El Al, Arkia, and Israir and signed off on the rights, it would still require US permission. You can bet that US airlines would lobby heavily against Emirates getting those rights.
In short, I sure wouldn’t bet on it happening. But hey, it’s fun to dream!
Israeli media (i24) is also reporting that Israel’s Transportation Ministry is offering subsidies and free shuttle service to Eilat/Ramon Airport if FlyDubai opens a base there to operate flights to Europe.
Wizzair was supposed to open a hub in Israel, but Israel has grown frustrated with the airline’s slow return to Israel, which has been pushed off several times. The airline currently plans on resuming flights on 5/28.
Israel had offered to waive landing fees for WizzAir at Eilat/Ramon Airport, so I’d assume that the same subsidy is being offered to FlyDubai. Airline executives will soon go on a tour of the facilities there.
Eilat/Ramon Airport has struggled to attract airlines due to its distance, about 4 hours by car, from the country’s population centers in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. High-speed rail was supposed to serve the airport, but has yet to get off the ground. Free shuttle service would certainly help things out, but flights would have to be significantly cheaper than out of Tel Aviv to be viable.
I’d guess that this offer is more about trolling WizzAir, or perhaps showing them that Israel has other airline options for Eilat/Ramon Airport. However, while it may not make financial sense for FlyDubai to open an Israeli hub, politics may also be in play. With the UAE looking to align more closely with Israel, operating a base in Israel may prove attractive.
File these both under long shots, but either would certainly have a massive impact on Israeli aviation.
What do you think about these moves? Do you think either will happen?
HT: yandmk
