Page 76 - World Airnews Magazine April 2020 Edition

NEWS DIGITAL

SUDAN OPENS

AIRSPACE

Latin America’s largest airline group,
LATAM, will be allowed to fly over Sudan
to Israel for the first time, in a move that
signals rapprochement between Tel Aviv
and Khartoum, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Sudan's decision to open its airspace for
LATAM flights is expected to significantly
shorten flights between Israel and Latin
America.
For example, flights to or from Brazil will
be two hours shorter.
Khartoum had authorised direct flights
from Latin American countries to Israel as Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (L), chairman of Sudan's ruling council, met with Israeli
part of the growing normalisation of rela- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) recently to discuss bilateral ties (AFP)
tions between the governments of Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and
Sudanese leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. April last year, Israel and Sudan had never enjoyed official bilateral
In December 2018, Netanyahu announced that Israeli airliners relations.
would be able to overfly Sudan on their way to South America, part
of Israel's drive to improve ties with Muslim countries and isolate HISTORY OF HOSTILE RELATIONS
rival Iran.
And in February this year, following a meeting between Burhan Sudan has been part of a decades-old Arab boycott of Israel
and Netanyahu in Uganda, Khartoum gave Israeli planes initial over its treatment of Palestinians and its illegal occupation of
Palestinian and Arab lands.
approval to fly over its territory. Later that month, an Israeli civilian
In the wake of the 1967 Middle East war, in which Israel occupied
aircraft flew through Sudanese airspace for the first time. the Palestinian territories and seized the Golan Heights from Syria,
Since 2018, encouraged by the administration of US President Arab leaders gathered in Khartoum to announce what became
Donald Trump, Israel has sought better relations with formerly known as the ‘three nos’ - no peace, no recognition and no
hostile Arab and Muslim countries - including Sudan - that share its negotiations with Israel.
worries about Iran or see potential economic benefits.
Up until that time, Israel had seen Sudan as an Iranian ally Khartoum's interim leadership seeks to be removed from a US
and accused it of serving as a conduit for arms smuggling to blacklist and crippling international sanctions.
Palestinians in Gaza. In 2009, regional sources said, Israeli aircraft As the Trump administration pushed its controversial plan for
bombed an arms convoy in Sudan. Israel and Palestine in January, critics have suggested that the
Prior to the ousting of longstanding president Omar Bashir in thawing relations between Sudan and Israel could be tied to the
removal of US sanctions. Q

NEWS

AIRLINK TO SUSPEND OPERATIONS

movement announced by President Foster.
Ramaphosa,” said Airlink managing director Airlink had already planned to operate
Airlink, a South African-based do- and chief executive, Rodger Foster. independently using its own flight code ‘4Z’
mestic and regional airline, has suspended “We intend to gradually reinstate a from 11 June 2020, this will now be brought
all operations in support of the country’s new optimised schedule of services once forward to 20 April 2020.
lock-down to slow and contain the spread the lock-down has been lifted. Whilst Holders of tickets for travel on SA8
the restrictions are currently intended
of the COVID-19 Corona virus. to last for 21 days, we will take our cue after 26 March 2020 with a ticket number
“In the face of this global public health from the government and the relevant commencing with the digits ‘083’ should
emergency, the safety and well-being of health authorities. Our target date for contact SAA for a refund as SAA holds the
our customers, crew, employees their recommencing operations will be 20 April funds paid in advance for these bookings
families and communities is our priority. 2020 and we will continue to keep our on behalf of customers.
It is our responsibility and civic duty to Customers, Travel Agents and Operators SAA refunds may be contacted on +27 11
support and comply with the new and informed should unforeseen circumstances 978 1786 or email onlinerefunds@flysaa.
stringent measures restricting everyone’s necessitate a change to this date” said com. Q

World Airnews | April Extra 2020
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