The Cabinet’s approval of charter flights to Israel on a three-month trial basis was hailed by Minister of Tourism Moshe Kol as a shot in the arm for Israel’s sagging terrorist industry. It was bitterly opposed by El Al, the national carrier and by Transport Minister Gad Yaacobi, but in the end they were forced to accept the inevitable. Kol and Yaacobi will set up a joint committee to implement the Cabinet’s decision.
The Cabinet, at its meeting last Sunday, acted on the recommendations of the Ministry of Tourism supported by a study conducted by a special panel headed by Meir Heth, a senior official of the Bank of Israel. The Heth committee proposed an easing of restrictions on charter flights which, hitherto have been limited to religious pilgrims and tourists from the Scandinavian countries. Under the new ruling charter flights will now be permitted in the following categories:
From the U.S. West Coast (not served by El Al) to Israel; from West Germany, excluding Frankfurt (a city served by El Al); incentive tours (a form of bonus some companies award their employes for outstanding performance); for U.S. and Canadian service personnel stationed anywhere in Europe and in Turkey; and for special events such as conventions and sports contests held in Israel.
In each case, the charter will require special approval from the ministries of tourism and transportation. The ban on charters will remain in effect for flights between Canada and Israel, apparently because of opposition both from El Al and Canadian Pacific Airlines which have a joint agreement.
El Al’s managing director, Mordechai Ben-Ari, told newsmen that the extended charters would hurt El Al because charter fares are considerably lower than fares on regular flights. However, he said, his company would demand “at least 50 percent” of the charter traffic under the new rules. He said El Al would not have to set up a special subsidiary to operate charter flights because the regulations of the International Air Transport Association (IA TA) permits national carriers to operate them.
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