Etihad Airways said it will become the first GCC carrier to operate a commercial passenger flight to and from Israel, to bring Israel’s top travel and tourism leaders to the UAE. The historic flight, in partnership with the Maman Group, will depart Tel Aviv on Monday, operated by an Etihad Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft for the three-and-a-half-hour journey from Israel to the UAE. The return journey will depart Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, chairman of the Etihad Aviation Group, said: "Today’s flight is a historic opportunity for the development of strong partnerships here in the UAE, and in Israel, and Etihad as the national airline, is delighted to be leading the way." "We are just starting to explore the long-term potential of these newly forged relationships, which will be sure to greatly benefit the economies of both nations, particularly in the areas of trade and tourism, and ultimately the people who call this diverse and wonderful region home.” In August, Israel and the UAE announced that they had reached a US-brokered deal to normalize ties. The UAE and Israel were due on Tuesday to sign an agreement to have 28 weekly commercial flights between the countries.