Israeli PM’s 'Kanaf Zion' Plane Costs Revealed Amid Partial Transparency

The Freedom of Information Movement requested detailed cost data on the Israeli Prime Minister’s aircraft, "Kanaf Zion," from the Prime Minister’s Office under the Freedom of Information Law. The office provided only partial information, revealing some key financial figures but withholding others citing national security concerns.

The construction phase of the "Kanaf Zion" project concluded in December 2021, with reported costs totaling approximately 365 million shekels. However, it remains unclear whether this figure includes the initial purchase price of the plane from the Australian airline Qantas, which was 76 million shekels. According to State Comptroller reports, the total expenditure for purchasing, upgrading, converting the plane for VIP use (including advanced communication and defense systems), and building necessary infrastructure like the hangar at Nevatim Airbase, was estimated at about 729 million shekels. The official Prime Minister’s Office document lists the construction costs as roughly half that amount but lacks detailed breakdowns.

Between the construction and operational phases, an active preservation period for the plane and infrastructure lasted until August 2023, costing 17.5 million shekels. The plane entered operational service in February 2024, initially flying to Athens without Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who officially inaugurated it on July 22, 2024, during a flight to Washington. The operational phase began in September 2023.

The Prime Minister’s Office disclosed operating costs from September 2023 through the end of 2025. Operating expenses were 6.27 million shekels in 2023, 34.18 million in 2024 (including fixed, variable, and one-time upgrade costs), and 18.67 million in 2025, showing a nearly 50% reduction from 2024. This decrease may relate to Netanyahu’s limited flights due to legal indictments, with trips mainly to Hungary and the United States.

Requests for detailed per-flight operational costs, including crew salaries, security, fuel, food, telecommunications, and insurance breakdowns, were denied, citing risks to state security and personal safety. Similarly, requests for annual maintenance costs, including interior repairs, design changes, and armoring, were also refused for the same reasons.

Attorney Hedi Negev, CEO of the Freedom of Information Movement, criticized the high costs compared to leasing alternatives and condemned the continued withholding of significant financial details under the pretext of national security. The original information request was submitted by student Gal Ashed from Reichman University’s Freedom of Information practicum, supervised by attorney Yaara Winkler Shalit.