Report: US Military Refueling Aircraft To Remain At Ben-Gurion Airport Through 2027
Dozens of American military refueling aircraft are expected to continue operating out of Ben Gurion Airport until at least the end of 2027, according to Israeli media reports, in a move that is reportedly creating growing pressure on Israel’s civilian aviation system.
Israeli outlet N12 reported Monday that the aircraft, along with American military crews and support personnel, are expected to remain stationed at and around Israel’s main international airport for the foreseeable future as part of the ongoing US military buildup tied to regional tensions with Iran.
The deployment reportedly began during Operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury, when American and Israeli forces coordinated strikes against Iranian targets and expanded military cooperation throughout the region. Reports earlier this year documented the arrival of US KC-46 and KC-135 refueling aircraft, as well as cargo planes, at Ben-Gurion Airport amid fears of broader regional escalation.
Israeli aviation officials are increasingly warning that the long-term military presence is disrupting normal civilian airport operations and could have major economic consequences for travelers and airlines.
Last week, Israel Civil Aviation Authority chief Shmuel Zakay reportedly sent a sharply worded letter to Transportation Minister Miri Regev, complaining that “Ben-Gurion is operating like a military base, not as a civilian airport.”
According to Israeli aviation officials, the parking and operational space occupied by American aircraft has reduced airport capacity at a time when international carriers are already hesitant to fully restore flights to Israel following months of regional instability.
Industry officials have warned that the continued military deployment could contribute to higher airfare prices by limiting available flight slots and discouraging foreign airlines from resuming regular service to Tel Aviv.
ישראיר CEO Uri Sirkis recently told the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee that the situation has significantly disrupted airline operations.
“We are currently allowed to have four overnight parking spaces at Ben Gurion Airport because of the US planes, and we were supposed to keep 17 planes in Israel,” he said.
Sirkis added that the shortage of space has forced airlines to adopt costly workarounds, including parking aircraft overnight in European cities and reversing flight schedules.
American military aircraft began arriving at Ben-Gurion in large numbers earlier this year as Washington expanded its military posture across the Middle East while weighing possible military action against Iran. Open-source flight analysts tracked dozens of refueling tankers and cargo aircraft entering the region during the buildup.
{Matzav.com}
