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First Nonstop Flight Between Israel and Saudi Arabia Arrives in Tel Aviv

May 22, 2017
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2 min read
U.S. President Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia for 1st visit abroad
First Nonstop Flight Between Israel and Saudi Arabia Arrives in Tel Aviv
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President Trump is currently in the middle of his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Italy. He first visited Riyadh (RUH), the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and now is in Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV) for his second stop. What's remarkable about his specific itinerary, however, is that his Air Force One flight from RUH to TLV was the first nonstop flight between the two cities, since the nations don't maintain diplomatic relations.

While the president and his staff flew nonstop to Israel, members of the press couldn't do the same, as the flight was subject to all the normal rules and regulations air traffic has to abide by when traveling in the region. Thus, the chartered Delta 757-200 had to fly from RUH to Larnaca, Cyprus (LCA) and then on to TLV. The plane was on the ground in Cyprus for a short while before departing for Israel. While there won't be any commercial flights between the two nations anytime soon, we love to see aviation bringing the world even just a little closer together!

H/T: Wandering Aramean

Featured image by Getty Images

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