Dodging Israel

[pellbay]

I was amazed last week when traveling from Dubai to Barcelona on EK to see that Israel was not named on the route map. Not only that but the route was changed so the flight did not fly over Israel. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[Steady]

Welcome aboard pellbay, no I've not experienced this.
Where are you based?
Do you get to travel much?

 

[TomVexille]

Welcome aboard!

IIRC the UAE does not recognise Israel as a state which is probably why it's not on the map.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF pellbay.

Not naming it on the screen wouldn't surprise me, but I'm not sure what you mean that the route map was changed so the flight did not fly over Israel.

How was it changed? Were you zooming towards Israel and then the screen route did a sharp dog leg around it, or was the flight path just north or south (south, presumably) from what the direct route would have been? The latter could have been for any number of operational reasons.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Welcome to AFF.

 

[JohnK]

Welcome to AFF pellbay!

 

[BettyB]

Welcome

 

[Quickstatus]

Malaysia airlines do it as well

 

[pellbay]

Yes, you are correct RooFlyer. It was a perfect curve as you illustrated, but, as we approached Israel, maybe 30 mins away, the flight path dipped and seemingly missed flying through Israel by what I would estimate about 10 miles, then changed course back to the original route. If my suspicions are correct, and I am pretty sure they are I would never step foot on an EK flight again.

Thanks everyone else for the welcomes.

Welcome to AFF pellbay.

Not naming it on the screen wouldn't surprise me, but I'm not sure what you mean that the route map was changed so the flight did not fly over Israel.

How was it changed? Were you zooming towards Israel and then the screen route did a sharp dog leg around it, or was the flight path just north or south (south, presumably) from what the direct route would have been? The latter could have been for any number of operational reasons.

View attachment 80292

 

[pellbay]

Guess I'm not surprised, but who would fly with them.

 

[RooFlyer]

Yes, you are correct RooFlyer. It was a perfect curve as you illustrated, but, as we approached Israel, maybe 30 mins away, the flight path dipped and seemingly missed flying through Israel by what I would estimate about 10 miles, then changed course back to the original route. If my suspicions are correct, and I am pretty sure they are I would never step foot on an EK flight again.

Thanks everyone else for the welcomes.

That's really interesting. The first image below is typical of the route taken on 13 of the past 14 days.



This is the route on 25th Sept. Was that the day you flew?



Anyway, this flight at least went over Israel. I'm not doubting what you say, but I wonder if there was some 'photo shopping' of the flight route on the in-flight screens to sooth the sensibilities of some of the pax?

 

[pellbay]

Thanks Steady. QFF Gold but only travel for leisure now. Enjoying Barcelona today. UK for a month next week

 

[Steady]

Thanks Steady. QFF Gold but only travel for leisure now. Enjoying Barcelona today. UK for a month next week

If you take any good pic's of somewhere special or interesting there is a thread called "The view from my office" we would love to see them

 

[pellbay]

Really good point Roo, I wondered about the photoshop theory too. However if that is the case I reckon it's a pretty pathetic attitude. I'm not Jewish but a few of my mates are and they were appalled when I told them.

 

[mannej]

Would it be appropriate to Ask the Pilot to see if there is an actual reason behind the flight path?

 

[pellbay]

From our back porch Hindmarsh Island S.A.

 

[etops1]

Also missing from QR. But Gaza is there

 

[etops1]

Anyway, this flight at least went over Israel. I'm not doubting what you say, but I wonder if there was some 'photo shopping' of the flight route on the in-flight screens to sooth the sensibilities of some of the pax?

I'm almost certain it didn't. The white part of the path is interpolated while the green part is actually recorded. Perhaps on this day the Egyptian recorder was not active.

It is reciprocal with El Al. The path from TLV to BKK avoids Saudi Arabia.

 

[prozac]

Welcome aboard pellbay.

 

[BettyB]

Welcome