Jordanian-Israeli peace airport

Dr. Bassam Al-Saket, Jordanian Minister of Transportation and his Israeli counterpart are scheduled to sign an agreement to jointly operate the Jordanian Aqba airport, overlooking the Red Sea, on Sunday, August 31.

The accord involves expanding Aqaba airport’s facilities to eventually divert all of Eliat's international flights, an estimated 150 flights a month, leaving the congested airport better able to accommodate domestic Israeli traffic. Airport premises extension would cost $30 million. It serves south Jordan, Aqaba Gulf, Eliat, and Ufda with a monthly average of 150 flights.

Jordan rejected Israel's request to deploy Israeli security men in the airport as it's against the country's sovereignty, Al-Saket said.

According to the two countries' 1994 peace treaty, a joint "peace airport" should be established to help their citizens move easily between Aqaba and Elat.