WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Saudi Arabiainfo-icon had granted Air Indiainfo-icon permission to fly over its territory on its new routes to and from Tel Aviv.There was no immediate confirmation from either Saudi officials or Air India. Netanyahu made the announcement during a briefing in Washington to Israeli reporters after he had met USinfo-icon President Donald Trumpinfo-icon.Saudi Arabia does not recognise Israelinfo-icon and lifting the 70-year-old airspace ban would reflect what appears to be thawing ties between Israel and the kingdom, both US allies with a shared concern over Iranian influence in the region.

Last month, Air India announced the planned thrice-weekly flights to Tel Aviv over Saudi soil, but the General Authority of Civil Aviation in Riyadh said at the time it had not granted such permission to the carrier.El Al Israel Airlines, the country's flag carrier, flies four weekly flights to Mumbaiinfo-icon. These take seven hours as they fly south toward Ethiopia and then east to India, avoiding Saudi airspace. Israel mediainfo-icon have said that Saudi overflight routes could reduce travelinfo-icon time by more than two hours.