Will flights be restricted ahead of the elections? The Israel Airports Authority responds

MK Efrat Rayten claimed there is an intention to restrict charter flights ahead of the elections. The director of the Israel Airports Authority, Sharon Kdmi, rejects the claims and clarifies that the allocation of takeoff and landing slots is done according to international aviation rules, based solely on professional considerations, with no political connection.

MK Efrat Rayten claimed there is an intention to reduce or restrict charter flights in the days leading up to the elections. The Democrats party argued that such a move could harm the ability of Israelis abroad to return to Israel and vote. The director of the Israel Airports Authority, Sharon Kdmi, sent an official letter to Rayten rejecting the claims outright. Kdmi emphasized that the allocation of takeoff and landing slots ("slots") is carried out in accordance with international aviation rules, determined in advance and updated according to the needs of airlines and the operational capacity of Ben Gurion Airport. It was further stated that decisions are made based solely on aviation considerations, without any connection to the election date or political considerations. The authority clarifies that it will continue to act to maintain the continuity of civilian operations, balancing public needs, flight safety, and operational capacity.