Israel, September 03, 2022: As of March 31, 2023, the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) will be banning four engine planes from operating to & from Israel. Popular planes with four engines include the Airbus A340, Airbus A380, and Boeing 747.
Currently no airlines fly four engine planes to Israel, though there are occasionally cargo flights operated by such planes. EL AL used to fly Boeing 747s, but retired those in 2019.
It’s stated that this ban is being implemented over environmental, noise, and sustainability concerns.
Specific exceptions can be granted to this rule, though. Presumably there could be an exception in the case of an emergency landing, or if a government plane (like Air Force One) made a visit to Israel. According to the news published in onemileatatime.com
The real motivation for this policy change:
I’m a little confused by this ban on Israel’s part, since I’m not sure exactly what issue this is addressing? As mentioned above, no airlines currently fly planes with four engines to Israel. Looking at the logic:
- On a per-passenger basis, four engine planes aren’t necessarily less environmentally friendly or less sustainable than two engine planes; with the same load factor, an A380 has lower per-passenger fuel burn than many planes with two engines
- Similarly, four engine planes aren’t necessarily louder than two engine planes; technology has come a long way
The only logic I can come up with here is wondering if Israel is just trying to ban Emirates from flying Airbus A380s to Tel Aviv? The Dubai-based airline recently started flying to Tel Aviv with 777s. Nearly half of Emirates’ fleet consists of A380s, and there has been speculation that the airline might eventually fly A380s there.
I’m not sure what the motive would be, but realistically the primary implication here would be preventing Emirates from flying A380s to Israel.
Bottom line
As of March 2023, Israel is banning planes with four engines from flying to the country, allegedly over environmental and noise concerns. Currently no airlines fly planes with four engines to the country. The major implication here would be for Emirates, if the airline tried to upgrade its Tel Aviv service to an A380.
