Transport Minister Warns Over 2.4 Million Summer Flight Cancellations Unless U.S. Fuel Tankers Are Moved

Transport Minister Miri Regev warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday that Israel may soon be forced to cancel more than 2.4 million airline tickets if American refueling aircraft are not removed from Ben Gurion Airport. She said the planes are occupying parking stands needed for passenger flights just before the summer travel season, creating a bottleneck for takeoffs and landings.

In her letter, Regev said that if the planes are not evacuated, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the Israel Airports Authority will have to formally tell Israeli airlines to notify customers that their summer and holiday bookings, already sold, are being canceled. She said the direct economic damage would reach billions of shekels for airlines, tourism and the wider economy, and added that Israel's image as a reliable aviation destination could be harmed, potentially pushing away foreign carriers that recently resumed flights after the ceasefire.

Regev also warned that mass cancellations during the summer and holiday period, including travel to Uman, would hurt national morale and social resilience in ways that are hard to measure. She said if half of the refuelers are not removed within two days, the cancellations through Rosh Hashanah would include Uman flights.

According to Regev, the United States currently has 72 refuelers parked at Ben Gurion, about half the available stands, while Ramon Airport has 26 refuelers occupying about 90% of its parking positions. She said no American refueler is parked at an Israel Air Force base, and because she believes the U.S. is unlikely to move the aircraft to neighboring countries soon, she proposed using air force bases and shifting military planes to civilian landing strips such as Sde Teiman, Rosh Pina, Megiddo and Ein Yahav. Regev said this option balances national, security and civilian needs, and asked Netanyahu to order its implementation. She added that she had already raised the proposal with the chief of staff, the deputy chief of staff and the air force commander, and presented it to the cabinet, but said it has not been carried out.