Unprecedented Sharing of Air Force Investigation Amid Ben Gurion Airport Crisis

The Knesset's Economic Committee, chaired by MK David Bitan, held an urgent discussion this morning on preparations for dealing with flight cancellations and rising prices in the aviation industry, initiated by MK Oded Forer. In the discussion, the director of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) referred to the missile that fell at Ben Gurion Airport on May 4, stating that in an unprecedented move, the key findings of the Air Force investigation were sent to the airlines. Chairman Bitan addressed the possibility of compensating European companies and said that the state is not an ATM and should not fund international airlines.

MK Forer explained at the beginning of the discussion that this is not the first meeting on the subject, and said he expected the Minister of Transportation to come and give answers but she is again visiting Hungary. He wanted to know what steps the state is taking against other countries and airlines that do not fly to Israel. Chairman Bitan responded that the state is not an ATM and we cannot always fund the companies.

CAA Director Zakhai addressed the situation and noted that as a result of the amendment to the Tibi Law (Aviation Services Law) approved by the committee, there was an improvement in this crisis. According to him, on May 4, a missile fell at Ben Gurion Airport and since then 41 airlines have flown to and from Israel, immediately after the fall there were only 22 airlines flying and today there are already 27 airlines with 14 companies having stopped flights since the fall until today. Zakhai noted that there was also a political level discussion, of the Minister of Transportation with the American Secretary of Transportation, and said that the companies need to be convinced to return. "After we finished the investigations in an unprecedented way, the key findings of the Air Force investigation, accompanied by professional explanations and tours, were transferred to the airlines. This is an unprecedented step that has not been taken in the past out of understanding that this is a strategic issue", he said.

Zakhai addressed the possibility of reducing compensation for passengers whose flight was canceled in the last crisis, and said that the law allows the minister to do so in regulations that require, among other things, the approval of the Economic Committee, but said he advised the minister not to do so. "I don't think there is now a situation that requires harming passengers", Zakhai said. He added that despite the promises, British Airways was the first to leave and the last to return.

British Airways representative, Attorney Shirley Katzir, responded that there is a difficulty in making this a personal issue. "They think that British made a personal decision to instill fear in Israel, but they forget that on May 4 a missile fell at Ben Gurion Airport and only on May 12 did the state decide to declare a special situation. Where were we for over a week? These are the efforts made to bring foreign companies and make them feel safe?", Attorney Katzir asked. She added that when you want to bring back a foreign company you need to give it an incentive.

Chairman Bitan responded that there will be no incentives for flights to Europe, as he demanded for flights to the US, and reiterated that the state is not an ATM.