Israel Matzav

Foreign airlines threaten to suspend flights to Israel

Fed up with lengthy delays and circling the airport due to interference by pirate radio stations, the foreign airlines that fly into Israel have threatened to treat Israel as a third-world country and suspend flights unless the government deals with the problem. It might help if the government arrested, tried and convicted people rather than just confiscating the equipment of those who are caught. To date, the only prosecution of an unlicensed radio station of which I am aware was the political prosecution of Arutz Sheva, and that station never broadcast in a manner that would interfere with flights in and out of Ben Gurion.

The foreign airlines that fly in and out of Israel include such world powerhouses as Continental, Delta, British Airways, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and Air Canada.

YNet adds:

"It is inconceivable that civil aviation should face such dangers in a Western country without anything being done about it," the representative of one of the airlines said. He added that the subject would be discussed by international aviation organizations, and that measures may be taken against Israel as a result.

The Israel Airport Authority (IAA) said in response that the disturbances are a regular problem, which gets worse under certain weather conditions. "Dozens of radio stations interfere with control tower radio frequency," an IAA official said, adding that the judicial system usually preferred to fine the radio station operators, instead of handing more severe sentences.

Maybe if it starts to interfere with the judges' vacations, they will do something about it.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:17 AM