Government decided to subsidize El Al, Arkia flights to Amman and Cairo

El Al currently maintains two flights per week to Cairo and Arkia operates two flights per week to Amman
 
Transportation Ministry announced last week that Israeli airlines El Al Israel Airlines Ltd and Arkia Airlines Ltd will receive special financial aid from the Government to allow them to continue operating regular flights to Egypt and Jordan.
 
The cabinet made the decision at the request of the Ministry of Transport.
 
The Ministry announcement also noted that a joint team from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministries of Finance and Transport will determine the amount of the subsidies. The government has conditioned the subsidy on continuing to operate flights at the same frequency.
 
El Al currently maintains two flights per week to Cairo and Arkia operates two flights per week to Amman.
 
Mofaz said that: "it is politically important for Israeli airlines to continue operating flights to Jordan and Egypt." He added that "The existence of flight agreements between the countries, in direct continuation of peace agreements, dictate the existence of regular flights between the countries. Any change or discontinuation of the air services could be regarded by the other side as a violation of these agreements, with all the far-reaching political repercussions resulted from such acts."