Speeches

Statements by Senior

Embassy Officials

Remarks by Ambassador Richard H. Jones
Delta Airlines Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
March 11, 2008 at 10:30 p.m.
Gate C6, Ben Gurion Airport

It is a pleasure to help celebrate the launch of Delta’s second daily, non-stop route to Tel Aviv.

Two years ago I took part in the festivities that inaugurated Delta’s Atlanta-Tel Aviv flight. Your company’s vision and hard work established Atlanta as a major gateway for Israeli passengers.

Adding a second daily flight to the U.S. in just two years is a remarkable achievement.  It is testimony to the strong relationship between our two countries and to the great, and largely untapped, potential of the US/Israel air travel market.

While overall travel to the United States from abroad is still below pre-9/11 levels, judging from the rising number of U.S. tourist visas we have issued every year, Israelis are doing their best to buck this trend.  Similarly, more Americans visited Israel last year than ever before.  This travel boom both reflects and contributes to the strong commercial ties between our two countries.

I congratulate all of you for your hard work and successful service.  By connecting Tel Aviv and New York, Delta is connecting two vibrant financial capitals that in many ways epitomize the two poles of the U.S.-Israeli bilateral relationship.  This relationship, which marks its 60th anniversary this year and is based on shared values and mutual economic interests, will be made even stronger by this new route.

Mazel tov to Delta and all the people who helped to achieve this important accomplishment.