Ben Gurion Airport in Crisis as Miri Regev and Ministry Officials Depart for Morocco Vacation
Arkia is launching a route to Marrakech, with Minister of Transport Miri Regev and senior ministry officials on board. The timing of the trip has sparked controversy due to the ongoing chaos at Ben Gurion Airport.
Arkia is launching its route to Marrakech today after a three-year hiatus. The inaugural flight will be joined by Minister of Transport Miri Regev and senior officials from her ministry: Director General Moshe Ben Zaken and Head of the Public Transport Authority Idan Moalem.
According to the Ministry of Transport, this is a private flight funded personally by all participants rather than an official ministry mission. However, these are the senior officials responsible for managing the chaos currently unfolding at Ben Gurion Airport, and it remains unclear how they intend to oversee the situation from Marrakech.
This timing is highly controversial, as the Israeli aviation industry is currently facing significant challenges, primarily massive delays and exceptional congestion at Ben Gurion Airport. The situation has been exacerbated by a fuelers' strike, air traffic congestion in Greece, and a persistent labor shortage.
Senior Ministry of Transport officials continue to receive reports regarding long waiting hours at Israel's only national airport. Despite claims that Regev and her staff managed to prevent widespread flight cancellations, it is difficult to view the summer of 2026 as a success for the aviation sector:
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An average delay of one hour for takeoffs and landings.
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Waiting times of up to two and a half hours for baggage collection.
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Endless queues at check-in counters and security checkpoints.
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Hours spent waiting inside closed aircraft for takeoff clearance.
