Almost ten months after the promises: no flights from Kiryat Shmona

Almost ten months after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Miri Regev promised to resume flights from Kiryat Shmona to central Israel, the planes still haven't taken off. The article reveals obstacles: lack of a convenient landing destination, security costs, and a budget gap of 21 million shekels.

Almost ten months after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Miri Regev announced the resumption of flights from Kiryat Shmona to central Israel, the planes still haven't taken off and the date of the first flight is unknown. The article reveals significant gaps between the promises and the preparations for operating the route. Among the obstacles: lack of a convenient landing destination in central Israel after the closure of Sde Dov Airport – landing at Ben Gurion Airport via Terminal 1 could increase total travel time by 20 to 35 minutes beyond the flight itself; security costs that have not yet been arranged; and a budget gap of 21 million shekels for continuous operation, compared to 200,000 shekels allocated for a feasibility study and up to 10 million additional shekels in 2026. Subsidizing tickets to an affordable price of about 100 shekels would require an additional 14 million shekels. Without a multi-year budget commitment, the future of the route is uncertain.