"Open Skies" deal with Europe is delayed

The decision to delay the deal followed a threat of strike action by airline workers in protest at the country's "open skies" agreement with the European Union
 
Israel's Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz directed Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority last Monday not to sign an “open skies” agreement with the European Union until his office examines the potential effects such an agreement would have on Israeli airline companies.
 
The decision to delay the deal followed a threat of strike action by airline workers in protest at the country's "open skies" agreement with the European Union, which will increase foreign competition for the Israeli carrier. The airline's union has declared a labor dispute and will be allowed to strike starting on March 13.
 
The Histadrut labor federation opposed the signing of the deal without consulting the employees, estimating that the policy would affect the 7,000 airline employees and the 25,000 workers whose jobs are facilitated by the industry.
 
Asher Edri head of El Al employee union noted in a press interview that "The Israeli aviation industry won't be able to fairly compete with the foreign airlines, which will turn into a destructive monopoly with 3,000 planes, compared to the 45 planes that we have.
 
Talks on an “open skies” framework, which would replace a number of bilateral agreements with European countries with a single Israel-EU agreement, have been ongoing for several years.
 
The agreement with Israel is expected to lead to a significant reduction in the cost of airline tickets and package holidays for the Israeli traveler.