DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇱 Israel /Energy & Infrastructure

Up to 50,000 flight tickets may be canceled as US keeps refuelers in Israel's airport - report

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Up to 50,000 flight tickets may be canceled as US refuelers remain at Ben-Gurion Airport.
  • The Israel Airports Authority CEO warned of serious operational consequences and significant financial losses due to the US military presence.
  • The Transportation Ministry stated that additional US refuelers will not be approved to land, urging the Defense Ministry to find solutions.

The presence of US Air Force refueling aircraft at Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv is causing significant disruption, potentially leading to the cancellation of up to 50,000 flight tickets.

This delay has immediate and serious operational consequences.

— Sharon KedmiCEO of the Israel Airports Authority, expressing concern over the US decision to keep refuelers at the airport.

The CEO of the Israel Airports Authority (IAA), Sharon Kedmi, expressed grave concern in a letter, stating that the delay in evacuating the US refuelers has "immediate and serious operational consequences." He further explained that the airport is operating at only one-third of its capacity due to the space and resources occupied by US military operations. This has resulted in a loss of 700 million shekels (approximately $248 million) for the IAA in recent months, a figure that could escalate to billions if the situation persists.

Citizens cannot be harmed; the Defense Ministry must find solutions.

— Moshe Ben ZakenCEO of the Transportation Ministry, commenting on the need to resolve the issue of US refuelers at the airport.

The CEO of the Transportation Ministry, Moshe Ben Zaken, echoed these concerns, announcing that additional US refuelers will not be granted landing approval. He emphasized that "Citizens cannot be harmed; the Defense Ministry must find solutions," highlighting the urgent need for a resolution to the ongoing issue.

We are only utilizing one-third of the airport's operational capacity.

— Sharon KedmiCEO of the Israel Airports Authority, describing the impact of US military operations on airport capacity.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog