Israeli PM’s ‘Kanaf Zion’ Plane Costs Total Over 360 Million Shekels, Operational Expenses Revealed
The Israeli Prime Minister’s official plane, known as "Kanaf Zion," has cost the government at least 364.91 million shekels for its establishment phase, which concluded in December 2021. This figure was disclosed by the Prime Minister’s Office in response to a Freedom of Information request by the Movement for Freedom of Information. However, it remains unclear whether this amount includes the 76 million shekels paid to the Australian airline Qantas for purchasing the aircraft. According to State Comptroller reports, the total cost of acquiring, upgrading, converting the plane for VIP use, and building necessary infrastructure such as the hangar at Nevatim Airbase is estimated at approximately 729 million shekels.
Between the establishment and operational phases, an interim period involved active maintenance costing 17.5 million shekels, ending in August 2023. The plane entered operational service in February 2024, with its first flight to Athens occurring without Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aboard. Netanyahu officially inaugurated the plane on July 22, 2024, during a flight to Washington. The operational phase began in September 2023, with the Prime Minister’s Office providing detailed operational costs from then until the end of 2025.
Operational expenses totaled 6.27 million shekels in 2023, rose to 34.18 million shekels in 2024 (including fixed, variable, and one-time upgrade costs), and are projected at 18.67 million shekels for 2025. The overall operational cost from 2023 to 2025 is about 60 million shekels, with a significant drop in 2025 likely due to Netanyahu’s limited flights amid legal indictments.
The Prime Minister’s Office refused to disclose detailed per-flight operational costs, including crew salaries, security, fuel, food, telecommunications, and insurance, citing national security concerns. Requests for annual maintenance cost breakdowns were also denied for the same reason. Attorney Hedi Negev, CEO of the Movement for Freedom of Information, criticized the lack of transparency, emphasizing that the plane is a far more expensive alternative than leasing an aircraft for the Prime Minister’s use and vowed to continue pushing for full disclosure.
The Freedom of Information request was submitted by student Gal Ashed from Reichman University’s Freedom of Information practicum, under the guidance of attorney Yaara Winkler Shalit.
