Jordan raises safety concerns over Israeli airport near Aqaba

Amman: Jordan expressed concerns over air traffic safety Sunday as it restated its opposition to the construction of an Israeli international airport near the coastal city of Aqaba.

Transport ministry spokesman Ali Odaibat told the official Petra news agency Jordan had notified the International Civil Aviation Organisation about its concerns over the Israeli project and to "stress Jordan`s keenness to protect its airspace".

Jordanian officials have repeatedly raised issue with the Timna airport, which is under construction just 10 kilometres (six miles) from the Red Sea Jordanian resort town of Aqaba and King Hussein airport.

Officials have said it is too close and will affect takeoffs and landings at Aqaba`s airport.

Odaibat said the ICAO would consider Jordan`s complaint and "make a decision on the (Timna) airport in terms of its impact on Jordan`s aviation sovereignty and public safety."

The new airport -- being built at a cost of more than $470 million (443 million euros) -- would be located northeast of the Israeli resort town of Eilat, in the southern Aravah region of the Negev desert.