Israel Restricts Night Flights for US Refueling Planes at Ramon Airport

Israel's Ramon Airport will suspend night operations starting November 1, impacting U.S. Air Force refueling aircraft that were relocated there from Ben Gurion Airport. Approximately 25 American tankers will be unable to take off or land between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Airport management informed U.S. Central Command representatives of the decision, requesting they find alternative operational locations. The Israel Airports Authority cited severe staff shortages and worker overload in recent months as the reason for the operational limitations. These refueling planes regularly operate from Israel on missions across the Middle East, despite Israel not being directly involved in the current regional escalations.

Two months prior, Sharon Kedmi, Director General of the Israel Airports Authority, warned in an interview that Ben Gurion Airport could not accommodate additional U.S. refueling planes during the summer due to capacity constraints. He emphasized that the airport is civilian and that adding even one more tanker would force flight cancellations and delays. Kedmi stated that efforts were being made to avoid canceling flights and that some tankers might be moved to military bases.