Israeli Airports Authority warns US aircraft congestion at Ben Gurion could lead to cancellations

First reported: The Israel Airports Authority is warning of harm to civilian aviation operations at Ben Gurion Airport בעקבות the continued parking of American refueling aircraft at the airport. In an emergency meeting convened this evening, Wednesday, the authority warned that the continued occupation of parking stands by American aircraft could worsen congestion and lead to significant disruptions to routine operations. The meaning is that if dozens of military aircraft are not removed in the coming days, the cancellation of 2.2 million tickets between July and October is expected. The Israel Airports Authority said the airport is operating under heavy strain, and that any damage to the availability of stands and to operational capacity could affect airlines and the traveling public. During the discussions, concerns were also raised about the continued impact of the security situation on the Israeli aviation sector, which has already been facing significant challenges since the outbreak of the fighting. Sources familiar with the details said that ongoing coordination is taking place between civilian and security officials in an effort to reduce the impact on air operations and allow Ben Gurion Airport to continue functioning as normally as possible.