Foreign airlines set to seek millions after fuel debacle

IAA officials tell airline representatives that all jet fuel is currently free of contaminants; airlines seek compensation for lost profits.

By BEN HARTMAN
airplane 311 (R) (photo credit: Reuters)
airplane 311 (R)
(photo credit: Reuters)
Foreign airline companies met on Wednesday to formulate a plan to receive millions of dollars in compensation from the state of Israel following the grounding and delaying of dozens of flights after a contaminant was found in Israel's jet fuel supply last Thursday, Channel 2 reported on Wednesday.
During the meeting, which was held with officials from the Israel Airports Authority at the authority's offices at Ben-Gurion Airport, the IAA told foreign airline officials that all of the fuel at Ben-Gurion was entirely clean of contaminants and that in the coming days the IAA will present each company with written assurance of the fuel's safety.
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On Monday, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) said that the fuel crisis had been solved, though the source and direct composition of the fuel contaminant had still not been determined.
Katz told reporters at the press conference Monday that in the wake of the fuel crisis, the ministry has reworked some of its emergency procedures in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Israel halted most departures from Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion international airport last Thursday after routine checks found aviation fuel supplies were contaminated, an airport spokesman said.
The gas problem was discovered a week and a half before, but actions were not taken until Thursday.
Only aircraft that flew in with sufficient fuel to reach their next destination were being allowed to depart as scheduled.
Reuters contributed to this report.