US Air Force presence in Israel triggers civil aviation crisis

Israel’s Transport Minister Miri Regev has sent an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of June 16, the deadline when the Airports Authority must notify airlines about potential flight cancellations if the shortage of aircraft parking spaces is not resolved.

Regev warned that, without the immediate relocation of part of the US Air Force refuelling aircraft currently stationed at Ben Gurion and Ramon airports, more than 2.4 million airline tickets could be cancelled during the summer season and autumn holidays, according to foreign media.

The transport minister proposed transferring some of the American aircraft to Israel Air Force bases or to airports outside Israel. She also noted that the crisis could affect the annual pilgrimage of Hasidic Jews to Uman ahead of the Rosh Hashanah holiday.

By Jeyhun Aghazada