Ben-Gurion Airport Struggles Amid U.S. Military Presence
- On Thursday, Israel Airports Authority Director General Sharon Kedmi reported that Ben-Gurion International Airport operates at about one-third of capacity, with 70% of activity limited by American military presence.
- The authority lost 700 million shekels over two months due to military operations, Kedmi noted, warning that financial losses could escalate into the billions if conditions persist.
- Projections show 3 million passengers face flight cancellations this summer as foreign carriers remain unable to return; projected traffic dropped from 18 million to 15 million passengers.
- Dozens of US refueling aircraft remain based at Ben-Gurion with no end date in sight, leaving Kedmi to state, "We are in a constant state of flux."
- Earlier this month, Civil Aviation Authority head Shmuel Zakay warned that Ben-Gurion has "turned into a military airfield with limited civilian activity," hampering local carriers since the Iran war began.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Report: US military planes at Ben Gurion Airport cost Israel $248m in losses
Report: US military planes at Ben Gurion Airport cost Israel $248m in losses The presence of US military planes at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport has cost airport authorities 700 million shekels ($248m) in losses over the past two months, public broadcaster KAN reported. Quoting Sharon Kedmi, director general of the Israel Airports Authority, the report indicates that the airport is operating at just one-third of its capacity due to the presence o…
Al-Monitor
US military planes harming Israeli commercial activity, airports chief says
JERUSALEM, May 28 (Reuters) - Ben-Gurion International Airport, Israel's main air gateway near Tel Aviv, is operating at about one-third of capacity due to the presence of U.S. refuelling aircraft, threatening heavy flight cancellations this summer, the head of the Israel Airports Authority said on Thursday.Sharon Kedmi, director general of the authority, told Kan's Reshet Bet radio station that 70% of activity at the airport is limited because …
Sharon Kedmi, Director General of the Israel Airports Authority, stated that US refueling planes deployed to Ben Gurion Airport for operations against Iran have disabled 70% of the airport's capacity, resulting in $248 million in losses over the past two months and potentially causing flight cancellations for 3 million passengers during the summer season.
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