New Delhi: Saudi Arabia has granted Air Indiapermission to fly over its territory, according to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

The nod is for the proposed thrice-weekly Delhi-Tel Avivnonstop that is to be launched within a month.

This will be a first for any commercial airliner as Saudi does not recognise Israel and airlines of both countries do not overfly each other's airspace. As a result, Israeli carrier El Al has to take a circuitous route for its Mumbai-Tel Aviv flights which it covers in 7-8 hours. AI's direct route will mean cutting the flying time between Delhi and Israel by at least 2-3 hours. Reduced fuel burn will result in lower fares.

Saudi and several other Islamic nations do not recognise Israel. As a result, the four-times-a-week Mumbai-Tel Aviv El Al flight does not overfly some countries on the direct flight path like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan due to which it has to take a longer route.