US Refueling Planes to Reduce Presence at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport Amid Iran-US Deal

Ahead of a potential agreement between Iran and the United States expected to be signed on Friday, some American refueling aircraft currently stationed at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv are set to leave. Currently, about 33 US refueling planes occupy parking spaces and affect runway traffic management at the airport. Following the deal, approximately 10 of these planes will depart, reducing the total to around 25, which was the originally agreed number upon their arrival in Israel.

This reduction is anticipated to ease operational congestion at Ben Gurion Airport, especially during the peak summer season when passenger traffic is at its highest. In August alone, the airport expects to handle over 2.6 million passengers, with daily volumes exceeding 100,000 on the busiest days. Recent weeks have seen flight delays and cancellations partly due to the unusual operational load, and decreasing the number of refueling planes could improve traffic flow and reduce delays.

It is important to note that the US refueling planes will not be completely withdrawn from Israel; the remaining 25 aircraft will continue to operate as needed for military and operational requirements. This adjustment aims to provide greater operational flexibility and more efficient management of air traffic during one of the busiest periods at the airport.