Cyprus's Aviation Chief Bans Israeli Airline -- Israel Threatens To Do The Same

Is there a battle brewing between civil aviation officials on Cyprus and in Israel?

The Israeli business publication Globes reports Cyprus's Directorate of Civil Aviation had cancelled permission for the Israeli airline Arkia to operate in Cyprus airspace and at airports in the island nation.

It took less than a day for Israel's Minister of Tourism, Meir Sheetrit, to respond. He told Globes, "If Cyprus cancels Arkia's flights to Cyprus, we can do the same, and cancel Cyprus Airways' flights to Israel."

Yikes.

Arkia had recently started flying from Tel Aviv to Larnaca, while Cyprus's state carrier, Cyprus Airways, operates four flights a week between Larnaca and Tel Aviv. Arkia hasn't yet filed an official complaint with the Israeli government -- an indication that talks may be underway.

What's the beef? Arkia says it's become too successful. The Cypriot Directorate of Civil Aviation hasn't said a thing yet.

(ANN Correspondent Nathan Morley is stationed in Cyprus. We'll have more details on this story in real time on Tuesday. -- ed.)

FMI: www.windowoncyprus.com/directorate_of_civil_aviation_cy.htm