The end of major fighting in Cyprus and use of a new route recommended by the International Air Transport Association has made possible resumption of all regular flights to Israel, officials here reported today. A Swiss Airlines plane was the first to land last night at Ben Gurion Airport via the new route, with planes of Scandinavian Airlines and other overseas companies following.
Prior to the outbreak of the Cyprus war, flights to and from Israel were made on a beam from the Nicosia control tower, which was knocked out, apparently damaged in the fighting. The new route recommended by IATA has been in use by El Al since the invasion of Cyprus by Turkish forces when the international airlines discontinued scheduled services to Israel and in part to Lebanon.
EI Al reported a special flight to the British base at Akrotiri in Cyprus where it picked up 60 Israeli tourists and families of diplomats still stranded at the base.
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