Former Premier David Ben-Gurion cut a blue ribbon this morning to officially open Atarot Airport, Jerusalem’s newly rebuilt and enlarged airfield which, according to Israeli officials is capable of handling international flights. Ben-Gurion shared the dias with Transport Minister Shimon Peres and Mayor Teddy Kollek.
The first commercial flights to take off from Atarot are scheduled for Sunday when Arkia, Israel’s inland airline, resumes its flights from Jerusalem to Eilat, Haifa and Rosh Pina. According to Kollek, Atarot can easily serve as an international airport and he expressed hope that the Transport Ministry “will consider really making this an international airport.” One obstacle, however, is the reluctance of international airlines to use the Jerusalem airport because it might be construed as recognition of Israel’s 1967 conquest of East Jerusalem.
The airport, originally built by the British Royal Air Force during the 1930s, lies in the former Jordanian sector of Jerusalem. It was built for World War II vintage aircraft and though subsequently enlarged by Jordan, was not capable of handling aircraft larger than the 50-seat Herald transport. According to Israeli officials it can now handle modern jets such as the Super Caravelle and the Boeing 727 and 737.
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