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The tension between the logistics sector and the regulator is reaching a peak. Amir Shani, Chairman of the Israeli Federation of Forwarders and Customs Clearing Agents, issued an urgent reminder and warning to Shmuel Zakai, Director of the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This marks the third appeal within a week, following previous communications that remained unanswered or unacknowledged by the regulator.
Shani does not mince words, describing a situation of collapse on the ground: "The shipping and logistics industry in Israel is at a breaking point." According to him, the regulatory paralysis is already manifesting in the shutdown of factory production lines, shortages of essential products, and severe damage to the reputation of Israeli companies with their global partners.
At the heart of the protest is the underutilization of existing aviation resources. While the economy is desperate for any available freight volume, the belly cargo capacity on reinforcement and rescue flights remains completely empty. Shani calls this a "market failure that is not a decree of fate," accusing the Israeli Ministry of Transport's inactivity of being interpreted as a disregard for the state's strategic-economic needs during wartime.
The proposed solution: A budget-free "Quick-Win"
The organization is again calling on the CAA to immediately adopt the proposed pilot framework—a rapid operational solution that requires no budget allocation, only management flexibility and the removal of bureaucratic barriers.
"I request your personal and immediate intervention before further irreversible damage is caused to the economy," Shani concluded in his appeal, which was copied to the Minister of Transport and the Commander of the Home Front Command.
The "Fast Cargo Route" pilot proposes:
| Pilot Component | Operational Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity Permit | Granting approval to load up to 50% of the aircraft's transport capacity on every rescue/reinforcement flight (import and export). |
| Operational Efficiency (SLA) | Performing full unloading and loading in less than one hour, without delaying the flight schedule (Turnaround time). |
| Control and Measurement | Tight monitoring of ground handling times and maintaining security continuity to prove long-term feasibility. |
| Regulatory Requirements | Granting a blanket operational permit to Israeli carriers and coordinating a "Green Track" with the Customs Department at Ben Gurion Airport. |
| Logistic Readiness | Allocation of dedicated work teams and available storage space for rapid reception and dispatch of cargo. |
