As the Iran war enters its third week, Israeli officials are examining a significant change to the passenger arrangement on special flights departing from Ben Gurion Airport that were originally designated to evacuate American citizens from Israel. If the proposal is approved, hundreds of additional Israelis may be permitted to join those flights leaving the country.

The proposal was discussed during a situation assessment currently taking place between Israel’s Home Front Command and the Ministry of Transportation. The talks are focusing on modifying seating allocations on the special flights so that more passengers can be accommodated.

Officials say the adjustment could allow many more Israelis to leave the country on flights that were initially organized primarily for American citizens. At the same time, additional easing measures related to aviation travel are also being examined.

Two weeks into the war, the Transportation Ministry has already reached agreements on certain aviation-related relaxations that are expected to take effect beginning tomorrow. Under the new arrangements, the number of passengers permitted on departing flights will increase. The change became possible after the Home Front Command authorized allowing larger numbers of people to be present at Ben Gurion Airport.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev convened a situation assessment Sunday evening to discuss expanding passenger quotas on outbound flights in the coming days, following an evaluation of the initial pilot program.

The plan under consideration would expand the pilot and introduce additional flights to the United States using wide-body aircraft capable of carrying approximately 300 passengers. Officials are also reviewing the possibility of increasing the number of passengers allowed on narrow-body aircraft traveling to European destinations—from roughly 100 passengers per flight today to between 150 and 170 passengers.

The move would represent another step in gradually restoring outbound flight activity at Ben Gurion Airport, which has been severely disrupted since the start of Operation Shaagas HaAri and the wave of cancellations by foreign airlines.

{Matzav.com}