Israel is reportedly moving to clear Ramon Airport of civilian flights and convert it to a military base for US aerial refueling aircraft, as domestic flight cancellations loom. The US is expected to send additional tankers, exacerbating parking shortages at Ben Gurion Airport.
According to reports, Israel is moving to clear Ramon Airport near Eilat of civilian flights and convert it to a military airbase for US aerial refueling aircraft, making it a fully military airport dedicated to supporting US refueling operations. The move comes as the US is expected to send additional tankers to the region, which would exacerbate an already severe parking shortage at Ben Gurion Airport. Israeli aviation officials fear that the crowding could force the cancellation of all domestic flights from Ben Gurion and Haifa to Eilat during the peak summer season.
The development follows weeks of reports about the US military's large tanker fleet at Ben Gurion, which has crowded out civilian aircraft and disrupted flight schedules. As The Zioneer has reported, the US maintained over 30 refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion as of mid-July, with some departures but ongoing concerns about capacity. The reports remain unconfirmed by official Israeli or US sources. The status of civilian flights to Eilat and the timeline for the conversion are not yet clear.
2 developments
- Strong40 US refueling tankers expected at Ben Gurion; domestic flights to Eilat at risk of cancellation
- DevelopingSatellite imagery shows 63 US transport aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport
- DevelopingReports: US refueling aircraft at key points ahead of potential strike on Iran
- StrongAt least 13 US aerial refueling tankers now active over Persian Gulf off Iran's coast
Source and signal
- Internal intake