The presence of more than 30 US military refueling planes at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel is creating severe logistical challenges during the country’s busiest travel period. The airport, designed to handle no more than 20 refuelers at once, faces overcrowding that threatens the schedules of around 50,000 ticket holders this summer.
Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev strongly criticized the US military’s decision to keep the planes on site, demanding their removal to allow uninterrupted commercial flight operations. Regev emphasized that the number of refuelers allowed to land at the airport should not exceed the agreed limit of 20, directing that the surplus aircraft be diverted to Israeli Air Force bases instead.
The US deployed approximately 75 refuelers and cargo planes to Ben Gurion Airport as part of a military buildup before the conflict with Iran escalated. Although some aircraft were relocated earlier this month, heightened tensions and renewed hostilities in the region have forced the US to maintain a significant military presence at the airport just as summer travel surges.
This congestion has complicated airport operations, with local airlines warning that the additional operational costs will ultimately fall on passengers. The conflict between the US and Iran intensified following American airstrikes targeting Iranian military installations, aimed at curbing Iran’s ability to threaten shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US Department of Defense has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the prolonged stationing of its aircraft at Ben Gurion.