A growing parking shortage at Ben Gurion Airport caused by dozens of U.S. military refueling aircraft could disrupt travel plans for more than two million passengers unless a solution is found in the coming days, according to a report by Channel 13.

The report says the Israel Airports Authority is weighing several options to ease the congestion, including shifting some commercial flights to Ramon Airport near Eilat and rescheduling overnight departures to morning and afternoon hours to free up parking stands.

The issue stems from dozens of American military aircraft that have remained parked at Ben Gurion for an extended period, occupying valuable aircraft stands needed for commercial operations.

According to Channel 13, the Airports Authority warned during an emergency meeting that if the military aircraft are not relocated soon, airlines may be forced to cancel as many as 2.2 million passenger reservations between July and October due to a lack of available parking and operational capacity.

Officials reportedly said Ben Gurion is already operating under significant strain, and any further reduction in available aircraft stands could severely impact airline schedules and airport operations during the busy summer travel season.

The report also noted that aviation officials remain concerned about the continuing impact of the security situation on Israel’s airline industry, which has faced major operational challenges since the outbreak of the war.

Sources familiar with the discussions told Channel 13 that civilian and defense officials are continuing to coordinate efforts in hopes of minimizing disruptions and maintaining normal airport operations as much as possible.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)