Report: US military planes at Ben Gurion Airport cost Israel $248m in losses
The presence of US military planes at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport has cost airport authorities 700 million shekels ($248m) in losses over the past two months, public broadcaster KAN reported.
Quoting Sharon Kedmi, director general of the Israel Airports Authority, the report indicates that the airport is operating at just one-third of its capacity due to the presence of US military refueling aircrafts.
"We are at the limit of our capabilities," Kedmi said, adding that around 70 percent of activity at the airport has been limited because of space and resources occupied by Washington's military operations.
He further warned that losses could enter into the billions if current conditions continue, noting that additional flight cancellations could be announced in the coming days.