The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) today announced that Ovda Airport will be closed to international commercial flights at the end of March. Following this decision all international flights to Eilat will land at Eilat Airport.
The IAA announcement noted that the winter season for charter flights to the Red Sea resort ends on the last day of this month. The IAA claims that there is no economic justification for operating Ovda airport for only a very small number of international flights.
Only a few days ago, Israel Airline Pilots Association chairman Boaz Hativa brought to the attention of the heads of the Ministry of Defense and the Israel Air Force the poor safety conditions at Ovda Airport. Due to the situation the IAA said that it would close the airport in order to carry out improvement works.
Eilat Hotels Association general manager Shabtai Shay said that the imminent closure of Ovda Airport was a blow to tourism in Eilat.
Shay said, "We already know of 10 flights that are due to arrive just prior to Passover and after and I've no idea how we will explain to the Europeans about this mess. Instead of dealing with Ovda's problems they simply decided to close the place."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 4, 2009
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