Jordan-Israel aviation deal cuts flight time, warms up ties

Jordan-Israel aviation deal cuts flight time, warms up ties

AMMAN –Jordan and Israel signed an aviation agreement that will allow commercial planes to fly through the Israel-Jordan corridor, Israel's transportation ministry said on Thursday.

The agreement has significant implications as diplomatic breakthroughs are secured on Arab-Israeli relations.

In recent months, Amman has felt the need to keep pace with regional changes in order to maintain its traditional role of mediator in the troubled region.

The Jordan-Israel aviation agreement had been discussed for years, but was only able to be finalised once Israel and Gulf Arab states the UAE and Bahrain signed historic agreements last month to normalise ties, Israel's transportation ministry said.

Jordanian officials had no immediate comment.

With commercial planes now able to fly through the Israel-Jordan corridor, flight times for some routes between Asia and Europe and North America, including flights from