'Whoever tries to boycott us through aviation should understand that there will be consequences,' Regev said.

Israir, which operates eight aircraft, will be leasing an Airbus 330 aircraft to service the route to New York from Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.

Saudi air traffic controllers give an Israir jet unprecedented permission to fly near Mecca, home to the holiest shrine in Islam.

'A working team from the state of Israel visited Manama today to discuss areas of cooperation between the two countries,' Bahrain said Wednesday.

Israel's second biggest airline jumps into the new market as Israel and the UAE prepare to sign historic peace accord.