Ben Gurion parking crunch could force 100,000 flight cancellations this summer

Ben Gurion Airport is facing a parking stand shortage that could disrupt Israeli summer travel, after American refueling aircraft have been occupying civilian parking positions since the end of Operation "Raging Lion." Israel Airports Authority CEO Sharon Kadmi warned the Transport Ministry in a sharp letter that, without an immediate evacuation of the aircraft, airlines may soon have to receive schedule changes that would mean canceling about 100,000 tickets.

Kadmi wrote that only 65 of the 99 stands designated for passenger aircraft are currently available, while at least 80 are needed for normal operations in July. He said the authority has not yet received any concrete approval or a binding timetable for the promised evacuation, despite verbal assurances.

According to the report, the Transport Ministry is holding urgent discussions, including with Transport Minister Miri Regev, in an effort to persuade the Americans to remove the refueling planes that have remained at the airport since before February 28, the start of the campaign against Iran. The planes are still on the ground and, officials warn, could soon force the cancellation of even more than 100,000 tickets if no solution is found.

Kadmi said that if the situation does not change, the airport will have no choice but to notify airlines within 24 hours about flight schedule adjustments. He added that by August, all 99 passenger parking stands at Ben Gurion Airport will have to be fully cleared.