Israeli Airlines Sell Tickets for Flights Operated by Foreign Crews

A recent incident involving a Fly Dubai plane has highlighted concerns about the safety and transparency of Israeli airlines selling tickets for flights operated by foreign crews. The author recounts a personal experience flying to Warsaw on an Israeli airline, only to discover the flight was operated by Poland's LOT. This practice, known as "wet leasing," involves Israeli carriers like El Al, Arkia, and Israir renting aircraft, along with their flight and cabin crews and safety procedures, from foreign companies to increase flight capacity without purchasing more planes or hiring additional staff. While the author acknowledges the economic necessity of wet leasing, they argue that passengers are misled into believing they are flying with an Israeli company and that their safety is overseen by Israeli personnel.

A related practice, "code sharing," allows Israeli airlines to sell tickets for flights operated entirely by foreign companies, with no Israeli security personnel onboard. Passengers may book through an Israeli airline's website but end up on a flight with an unfamiliar foreign carrier. A senior aviation industry source confirmed that Israeli airlines do not conduct security background checks on foreign pilots, as they lack the authority and access to personal information. The situation is more severe under code sharing, where the Israeli airline has no control over the cockpit crew for a specific flight they sold.

The author places responsibility on the Israeli airlines, not security agencies or the Ministry of Transportation, to ensure rigorous checks are performed on foreign crews. They question who guarantees that pilots flying into Israel have not been vetted and express concern over potential security risks, citing reports of pilots from countries like Syria, Iraq, Oman, and Iran having entered Israel. The State Comptroller previously warned of issues in international aviation security and oversight of foreign aircraft entering Israel, with some findings remaining classified.

During security crises, when foreign airlines cancel flights, Israeli carriers often exploit the situation by charging exorbitant prices, which passengers pay due to a lack of alternatives and fear of being stranded. The author argues that passengers pay a premium for the perceived reliability and security of Israeli airlines, and this expectation is betrayed when the airline outsources the critical aspect of flight operation to foreign entities without ensuring thorough vetting. The article concludes by demanding clear disclosure to passengers about wet leasing and code sharing, and insists that if airlines cannot verify the security clearance of foreign crews, they should not sell those flights.