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As part of the open skies agreement, Minister of Transport Shaul Mofaz has now authorized Arkia, Israir and Sun d’Or to start scheduled flights to a number of destinations in Germany.

Following the signing of the bilateral aviation agreement between Israel and Germany in January 2009, up to two Israeli airlines have now been granted permission to fly scheduled passenger service to the same destination.   Under the terms of the agreement, Israeli airlines may fly up to 30 flights a week to Germany, as well as operating regular cargo flights between the two countries.

Based on the decision of Minister Mofaz and the recommendation of Giora Rom director of the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority, Arkia Airlines has been given approval to operate scheduled flights on the routes Tel Aviv to Dusseldorf and Tel Aviv to Munich.   Israir will operate scheduled flights from Tel Aviv to Berlin and Tel Aviv to Stuttgart while Sun d’Or has been designated the Tel Aviv to Frankfurt and Tel Aviv to Dusseldorf routes.

Minister Mofaz also appointed cargo company CAL (Cargo Air Lines) as the cargo carrier on the routes between Tel Aviv and Frankfurt and Tel Aviv to Cologne.

According to Mofaz, the decision to give Israeli airlines additional scheduled routes is another step of the Ministry of Transport in opening the skies to competition.  Mofaz added that allowing other airlines access to different routes in Germany is expected to result in a growth of tourist traffic to and from Germany.