Israeli Medical Exporters Demand Cargo Space on Empty Rescue Flights

Alongside the rescue flights that landed this morning at Ben Gurion Airport operated by Arkia, El Al, and Israir, many Israeli importers and exporters are wondering why these flights include passengers only. In the belly of the aircraft, there is significant cargo capacity that remains unutilized, despite massive demand for urgent exports from Israel, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and refrigerated food.

According to Tal Graviner, COO of Insightec: "Israeli medical export is an anchor and a point of resilience for the Israeli economy. Hospitals in many countries depend on the supply of equipment manufactured in Israel, and the state is responsible for enabling continuity of care at all times. This continuity relies on shipments that are mostly flown by air due to their sensitivity and urgency."

Graviner adds that "At this time, when cargo movement at Ben Gurion Airport is very limited, exports must be allowed on the rescue flights currently departing Israel empty. This is the responsibility of the entire system toward our patients around the world."

Currently, only two rescue flights have been carried out in this format, but the concern among exporters is that the current policy will continue for upcoming flights scheduled for the next few days, which will exacerbate the damage to the global supply chain.

Shai Haimov, Director of the Israel Pharma & Medical Logistics Forum, stated: "The rescue flight framework is a welcome move to bring Israelis home, but these planes must not be left empty on their way out. For the Israeli pharma and medical device industry, every such flight that leaves empty is a wasted opportunity that could delay medical treatment for people and cause irreversible damage to Israeli exports."

The forum receives daily inquiries from companies in the pharma and medical equipment industry, which are desperate for a logistics solution, with an emphasis on flying urgent and temperature-controlled shipments. We call on the Israeli Ministry of Transport to immediately approve the loading of export shipments on these flights. To send out an empty aircraft while Israel is required to prove industrial resilience and continuous supply to its global customers is a decision that must change. This is the need of the hour – both economically and morally.

PORT2PORT contacted the spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Transport to ask why exporters desperate for space are not receiving a response for flights departing empty. The Ministry of Transport spokesperson noted in response: "These are the instructions."