Israeli Airlines Rely Heavily on Foreign Crews, Raising Security Concerns

Following a recent hijacking attempt on a Fly Dubai plane en route to Israel, a concerning issue has emerged regarding the security of flights operated by Israeli airlines. While passengers often choose Israeli carriers like Israir, Arkia, and El Al's Sun D'Or for a sense of security, a significant portion of these flights are operated by foreign crews under a "wet lease" arrangement. In this model, the Israeli airline sells tickets under its brand, but the aircraft and its operating crew are provided by a foreign company. This means pilots and most cabin crew may not be Israeli, with the Israeli connection sometimes limited to a single Hebrew-speaking flight attendant.

During peak seasons, Israir may operate up to 10 aircraft on wet lease from foreign carriers such as Smartwings, SkyUp, Fly2Sky, and DAT. Sun D'Or regularly uses 4 to 6 wet-leased aircraft, primarily Boeing 737s from Lithuania's KlasJet, for destinations including Tbilisi, Warsaw, Krakow, Tivat, and Greek islands. Arkia also utilizes this model, operating an average of 4 to 5 wet-leased aircraft alongside its own fleet, including narrow-body planes for European routes and wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A330 for long-haul flights. Combined, nearly 20 aircraft could be operated by foreign entities for Israeli airlines during peak times.

Many passengers are unaware that when booking through an Israeli airline's website, the flight might be operated by a different company entirely. While booking details may contain a small indication of a different operator, this information often lacks the prominence of the purchasing airline's name. This lack of transparency is particularly troubling in light of the Fly Dubai incident, as the security protocols for flights operated by foreign crews may not be identical to those of flights run with the airline's own resources.

While wet leasing is a common and legal practice globally, enabling airlines to expand capacity without purchasing new planes or hiring additional staff, the article highlights that the security implications for Israeli travelers are significant. Passengers who opt for Israeli airlines, sometimes at a higher cost, may do so for the perceived security benefits. However, the line between an "Israeli flight" and a "foreign flight" is blurred, raising questions about whether a brief note in the booking confirmation is sufficient disclosure when the cockpit crew might be foreign.