- Initially Ramon Airport will handle only domestic flights, operated by Israeli carriers Arkia and Israir
- A date has not yet been given for the start of international flights
JERUSALEM: Jordan on Monday hit out at Israel鈥檚 move to open a new international airport along their shared border close to the Red Sea, saying it would threaten the kingdom鈥檚 airspace.
鈥淛ordan rejects the establishment of the Israeli airport in its current location,鈥� head of Jordan鈥檚 Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission Haitham Misto said, according to state media.
Misto said the airport violated 鈥渋nternational standards regarding respect for the sovereignty of airspace and territory of other countries.鈥�
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended the opening ceremony earlier in the day of the Ramon Airport, meant to boost tourism in the Jewish state and serve as an emergency alternative to Tel Aviv鈥檚 Ben-Gurion airport.
Initially, the sleek new terminal will handle only domestic flights operated by Israeli carriers. A date has not yet been set for the start of international flights.
Jordan first voiced its objection to the new Israeli airport when construction began in 2013.
The airport sits just across the border from Jordan鈥檚 King Hussein International Airport in the Red Sea city of Aqaba.
Misto said Jordan had notified the International Civil Aviation Organization of 鈥渢he kingdom鈥檚 strong objection.鈥�
The kingdom, he said, had called on the ICAO to 鈥渢ake all necessary measures to ensure that Israel complies with international standards.鈥�
Misto said the committee had been in touch with Israel鈥檚 civil aviation authority, and 鈥渋nformed them that the decision to operate the airport should not be taken unilaterally until all outstanding matters are resolved.鈥�
Jordan 鈥渞eserves all options to ensure the defense of the kingdom鈥檚 interests and protection,鈥� he added.
The new airport is named after Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, who was killed in the 2003 Columbia space shuttle explosion, and his son Assaf, an Israeli Air Force pilot who died in a training accident in 2009.
A date has not yet been given for the start of international flights.
Construction costs for the new airport have been put at 1.7 billion shekels ($455 million)