Air Transport Pact Welcomed

American and Israeli officials yesterday welcomed the new Israeli U.S. civil aviation agreement that calls for lowering air fare and vastly increased traffic between the two countries.

In the signing ceremony at the State Department, Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher said the agreement represents new U.S. aviation policy and “a major step forward” in competition in air transportation. He noted Israel’s El Al air-line can now serve four additional American cities and American airlines can fly from all U.S. cities to Israel

“This is a significant advance in our partnership with Israel,” Christopher said. “It strengthens the endurable and unshakable bonds between our two countries.”

Israeli Ambassador Simcha Dinitz, who signed the agreement that amends the original U.S.-Israeli pact of 1950, called it “the most liberal air agreement ever signed.” He said “it fulfills desire of both countries” for increased passenger traffic at the lowest and most competitive rates. Dinitz said that for Israel the agreement opens the gates to facilitate tourism and more intimate relationship between the peoples of America and Israel.

Senators Richard Stone (D. Fla.) and Charles Percy (R.III.), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Transportation Secretary Brock Adams also lauded the agreement. Stone reported that National Airlines has formally filed application with the Civil Aeronautics Board to fly three times a week beginning in April from Miami to Tel Aviv via Amsterdam, Paris and Zurich. Percy said the agreement reflected American “devotion and support for Israel as an ally and friend of the United States.”

The ceremony was attended by representatives of numerous Jewish community organizations, including a delegation from Chicago which is one of American cities in which EI AI is expected to have landing rights in the near future. The others are Baston, Los Angeles and Miami.