The presence of US military aircraft at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport has cost the country’s airport authority 700 million shekels ($248 million) in losses over the past two months, Israeli officials have said, warning that the figure could rise to billions if the situation continues.
Sharon Kedmi, director general of the Israel Airports Authority, said on Thursday that Ben Gurion Airport is currently operating at only one-third of its capacity due to the presence of US military refuelling aircraft, according to remarks carried by Israel’s public broadcaster KAN.
“We are only utilising one-third of the airport’s operational capacity,” Kedmi said, adding that around 70 percent of activity at the airport has been restricted because of space and resources occupied by American military operations.
“We are at the limit of our capabilities,” he said, warning that additional flight cancellations will be announced in the coming days.
Kedmi warned that losses could climb into the billions if current conditions persist.
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