Story perspectives

US Tankers Dominate Ben-Gurion, Cutting Flights, Raising Fares

5/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

Dozens of U.S. tanker planes have turned Ben-Gurion Airport into a primarily military field, limiting civilian capacity to about one-third.
Sharon Kedmi, director general of Israel Airports Authority, said the airport lost 700 million shekels in two months and may cancel up to three million flights this summer.
Shmuel Zakay, head of the Civil Aviation Authority, told the transportation minister the U.S. presence is raising airfares and delaying foreign airlines’ return.

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Story summary

Dozens of U.S. tanker planes have turned Ben-Gurion Airport into a primarily military field, limiting civilian capacity to about one-third.
Sharon Kedmi, director general of Israel Airports Authority, said the airport lost 700 million shekels in two months and may cancel up to three million flights this summer.
Shmuel Zakay, head of the Civil Aviation Authority, told the transportation minister the U.S. presence is raising airfares and delaying foreign airlines’ return.