Israeli Airports Authority Assures No Flight Cancellations Despite Security Concerns

Yiftach Ron-Tal, Chairman of the Israel Airports Authority, assured on Wednesday that there will be no flight cancellations at Ben Gurion Airport, even amid heightened security tensions and the potential arrival of additional U.S. refueling aircraft. Speaking on Kan News, Ron-Tal emphasized full support for the recently updated policy by Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli, stating, "There is no intention to close Israel's airspace, even in the current sensitive strategic-security situation."

Ron-Tal's statements directly contradict those of Sharon Kadmi, CEO of the Airports Authority, who warned the previous day that Ben Gurion Airport would be unable to handle all scheduled flights if more U.S. refueling planes arrived, potentially forcing cancellations. Kadmi had said, "We cannot accommodate even one more refueler at Ben Gurion. If one arrives, we will start canceling flights."

Despite this disagreement, Ron-Tal painted a positive picture of airport operations, noting record passenger numbers during the critical "between the seasons" travel period. He reported that Ben Gurion is currently handling up to 90,000 passengers daily, with July expected to see over 2 million travelers, a 25% increase compared to last year. This growth follows the reopening of Terminal 1 for international flights and a gradual return to normalcy after Operation Guardian of the Walls.

Ron-Tal confirmed that all operations are coordinated with Israel's security apparatus and reiterated adherence to the Transportation Ministry's policy to keep the skies open. Minister Merav Michaeli has previously stated efforts are ongoing to maintain open skies for the summer travel season and to meet rising flight demand, including relocating some U.S. military aircraft to expand flight capacity. The government recently approved up to 55 million shekels in compensation for Israeli airlines for empty flights during the recent conflict.

The surge in passenger traffic and the return of many international airlines to Ben Gurion reflect renewed public and industry confidence in Israel's aviation sector. Last Thursday, the airport recorded about 85,000 international passengers, the highest daily figure since the start of Operation Guardian of the Walls.