The director general of the Israel Airports Authority warned Tuesday that if another US aerial refueling aircraft arrives at Ben Gurion Airport, it could force flight cancellations due to a shortage of parking spaces. The warning adds to ongoing concerns about the impact of US military aircraft on civil aviation operations.
The warning from the director general of the Israel Airports Authority comes as Ben Gurion Airport continues to grapple with the presence of US KC-135 and KC-46 refueling tankers, which have been stationed at the airport to support Israel's operations against Iran, as The Zioneer has reported. The aircraft occupy parking spots normally used by commercial airlines, and the airport has faced a weeks-long shortage of fuel trucks that has repeatedly threatened summer travel. Aviation officials have previously warned of the risk of tens of thousands of ticket cancellations. The latest warning signals that the situation may be worsening, with the director general stating that the arrival of even one additional tanker could tip the balance and force airlines to cancel flights. The number of tankers currently at the airport was not specified in the warning, and it remains unclear whether the US military has plans to send additional aircraft.
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