Etihad wipes Israel off map

VIRGIN Australia has been warned it may lose custom from Jewish travellers after it emerged that its partner airline Etihad has removed Israel from its online global map.

The map, which shows flight routes served by the United Arab Emirates’ national carrier includes Israel’s neighbours, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt.

Etihad’s website appears to be using the same interactive map as the One World Alliance website.

Although unnamed, both sites demarcate the West Bank as a territory and seem to place the Gaza Strip, also unnamed, within Egypt.

However, while the One World Alliance map names Israel, Etihad does not. In addition, neither map features a border between Israel and Lebanon, so the implication from the Etihad map is that the entire territory is part of Lebanon.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Robert Goot said that Etihad’s decision “amounts to a gratuitous political comment, which will have consequences”.

“Virgin and Etihad each risk losing business from Jewish and other supporters of Israel who may elect not to use airlines that make them feel unwelcome,” Goot said.

“Extreme and dogmatic political symbolism makes for bad business decisions. Etihad’s action is childish and ill-befitting a major commercial enterprise. They should reconsider.”

Contacted by The AJN, Etihad declined to comment on the omission of Israel from the map.

However, the airline did deny media claims that it refused to transport any people travelling on Israeli passports. “As long as the guest holds a valid passport and has a visa to enter the country of destination they may fly with Etihad Airways,” a spokesperson said.

“We neither profile nor discriminate against anyone based on their religious beliefs or faith. Any passenger with the correct documents is allowed to travel, as is the case with any airline in the world.”

In late 2012, communal concerns were raised over a deal between Qantas and the UAE’s other major airline, Emirates, which saw Australia’s flagship carrier routing its flights to Europe through Dubai.

The deal sparked alarm for Jewish travellers as the UAE prohibits Israeli passport holders entering its territory other than to proceed to another destination. If a flight was delayed, Israelis would not be permitted to leave the airport.

In the wake of concerns, the UAE confirmed travellers with Israeli stamps on their passports would be able to enter the country, while Qantas said arrangements could be made to travel to Europe via various Asian destinations.

JOSHUA LEVI

Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Robert Goot