WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration says Israel is now complying with international aviation standards and its U.S. safety rating has been upgraded.

The FAA said Thursday the decision to return Israel to the list of nations the U.S. says meet international safety standards was based on an FAA review in October.

The upgrade means Israeli airlines can expand their service to the United States.

Israel was downgraded by the FAA in 2008 to a category 2, which means a country either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee airline safety or its civil aviation authority for safety lacks technical expertise or trained personnel, or is deficient in its record-keeping or inspection procedures.