Saudia cancels lease deal after Israel MRO visit

Saudi Arabian Airlines is understood to terminated a lease contract with Portuguese charter firm Hi Fly after one of its aircraft was taken to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport Israel for routine maintenance.
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According to Saudi news sources the aircraft was still sporting the Saudi Arabian carrier's livery and logo when it landed in the Israeli city.
Israeli media reports state the A330 had arrived in Tel Aviv from Brussels National and was undergoing routine maintenance with Israel Aerospace Industries MRO wing Bedek as per their contract with Hi Fly.
However, according to Arab News, even though the aircraft was not operating a commercial service for Saudia at the time, the Saudis claimed the Portuguese had violated the terms of their contract by deploying the jet to a country with which Saudi Arabia has no official diplomatic ties.
 

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