“Ben Gurion ‘a US military base’, Israel aviation chief warns Israel’s civil aviation chief has warned that Ben Gurion Airport is operating like a “US military base”, raising concerns over disruption to civilian flights and mounting pressure on the aviation sector. Shmuel Zakay made the remarks in comments to Transport Minister Miri Regev and ministry Director General Moshe Ben Zaken, according to Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. “Turning Ben Gurion International Airport into a military base harms the return of foreign airlines and threatens the financial stability of Israeli airlines,” Zakay said. He added that military activity at Israel’s main international gateway is delaying the return of foreign carriers and driving up ticket prices ahead of the summer travel season. “Ben Gurion Airport has become a military base with limited civilian activity,” he said. Zakay also criticised what he described as a lack of understanding within Israel’s military establishment of the broader impact on civilian aviation and the public. He called for US aircraft to be relocated to dedicated military bases, warning that the current situation is affecting airlines and “all citizens of the country”.
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