Israel’s main international airport, Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, is currently operating at roughly one-third of its normal capacity due to the presence of U.S. military refuelling aircraft, according to the head of the Israel Airports Authority.
Sharon Kedmi, director general of the authority, said the airport is experiencing severe operational constraints, with around 70% of its capacity affected by ongoing American military activity stationed at the facility.
He explained that the limited available space has forced the airport to reduce civilian flight operations significantly, adding that flight cancellations are expected in the coming days as capacity pressures continue.
According to him, foreign airlines are unlikely to resume full operations soon, with projections suggesting that up to three million passengers could be affected by cancellations during the period of disruption.
Dozens of U.S. tanker aircraft are reportedly based at the airport, contributing to congestion and reducing available infrastructure for commercial aviation.
Kedmi also revealed that the airport has already suffered major financial losses, estimated at around 700 million shekels in the past two months, with potential losses rising into the billions if the situation persists.
He added that while 18 million passengers were originally expected to pass through the airport this year, current projections suggest the figure may fall below 15 million due to ongoing disruptions.
Officials say there is currently no clear timeline for when U.S. military operations at the airport will be scaled down or relocated, leaving the aviation sector in a prolonged state of uncertainty.
Israeli aviation authorities have also warned that the situation is affecting local carriers, delaying the return of international airlines and contributing to higher ticket prices.
The disruption comes amid broader regional tensions, with reports indicating that Israeli airlines previously relocated some aircraft abroad at the start of recent conflict, and not all have yet returned.
