Saudi Arabia may allow Israel to use its airspace — shifting a policy that has defined the region for decades

Saudi Arabia reportedly granted approval to Air India to fly direct from Delhi to Tel Aviv using its airspace, though it has not been confirmed.
News of Saudi Arabia potentially easing its airspace regulations may add concrete evidence to reports of the country's warming ties to Israel.
Several reports have surfaced showing covert cooperation between Israel and Saudi Arabia, who currently maintain no diplomatic ties.
Concerns over mutual enemy Iran and the Saudi Crown Prince's push for cultural and diplomatic reform are likely reasons why the two countries have gotten closer in recent years.

Earlier this week, insiders in the Israeli aviation industry told Haaretz that Saudi Arabia reportedly granted approval to Air India to fly direct from Delhi to Tel Aviv using its airspace.

Reuters confirmed on Wednesday that Air India said it is planning direct flights to Israel, and sought permission from Saudi Arabia to fly over its territory, which would significantly reduce flight times by more than two hours.

Saudi Arabia's aviation authority denied reports that it already granted Air India's request.

However, there was no indication that it would not consider the request in the future.

If the air route is confirmed,

Currently,

Israel and Saudi Arabia have shared goals

Several reports have surfaced showing covert cooperation between Israel and Saudi Arabia, who currently maintain no diplomatic ties.

One key issue the two have bonded over is curbing common-enemy Iran's continued expansion in the Middle East.

Iran has openly threatened to annihilate Israel many times over the serious decades-long conflict between the two countries.

Saudi Arabia and Iran's strained ties trace back to a

Council on Foreign Relations in 2015 and discussed their common interest in opposing Iran. Anwar Eshki, a retired major general in the Saudi armed forces and Dore Gold, a former Israeli ambassador close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, admitted that

Kobi Michael, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, told Al Jazeera that Iran remains a major threat to many countries across the Middle East.

"Unfortunately, the US left a vacuum in the region which was filled by the Russians in Syria and by the Iranians and their proxies in other parts of the Middle East," he told Al Jazeera.

"Israel is perceived as the most reliable potential ally. Therefore the Saudis understand pretty well that it is a good time to be good friends with Israel," he said in the interview.

The Crown Prince is ushering in a new era

Saudi's young Crown Prince is also seen as a key piece to understanding the timing of Israel and Saudi Arabia renewed relations.

The ambitious Mohammed Bin Salman has been spearheading a reform of Saudi's domestic and foreign policy, which include

Associate professor with the Gulf Studies Program department at Qatar University Mahjoob Zweiri told Al Jazeera: "The political changes in Saudi Arabia and the desire to consolidate power is the main reason why these relations with Israel were opened."