Belgium, Israel Open Negotiations in Dispute over Sabena Flights to Israel

Air traffic negotiations are expected to open here soon between Belgium and Israel to work out a snag that developed after last year’s negotiations when Israel’s national airline, El Al, complained of Belgian competition. According to last year’s agreement, the Belgian airline, Sabena, was authorized to add a second weekly flight to Tel Aviv to cater to an anticipated increase in tourist traffic between the two countries. El Al claimed that the increased traffic does not originate in Belgium but consists of American tourists who pass through Brussels on their way to Israel. The added Sabena flight is directly competitive to El Al’s regular flights from New York to Tel Aviv, the Israeli airline said.