Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming flight to the United States aboard the Wing of Zion will carry fewer passengers than usual due to operational adjustments prompted by potential airspace restrictions, sources familiar with the matter confirmed to The Jerusalem Post.
The aircraft, which is scheduled to depart next week for New York, will reportedly take a longer flight route than originally planned. The revised flight path was drawn up in light of concerns that several European countries may decline to grant overflight permission, officials said.
To compensate for the additional fuel required for the extended route, officials opted to reduce the plane's weight by limiting both passenger capacity and equipment.
Last week, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that journalists and some members of Netanyahu’s entourage would not accompany him on the aircraft for the trip to the United Nations General Assembly.
“Due to technical arrangements related to seating and security, it has been decided to limit the number of passengers on the upcoming Wing of Zion flight, including journalists and members of the prime minister’s entourage,” the office said in a statement.
Change due to political tensions
However, officials later indicated that the extended flight path was the primary factor in the decision.
The route change is linked to political tensions related to the war in Gaza, and to speculation that countries that are members of the International Criminal Court may deny overflight to individuals facing legal action.
The Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment further on the matter.