Israel says it’s banning four-engine jets from serving the country as of March 2023 but it would appear only cargo carriers, including El Al’s cargo subsidiary, will be directly affected. The Israel Airports Authority says environmental, noise and sustainability concerns are behind the ban, although the math doesn’t always support that. “The increase in passenger and aircraft traffic at Ben Gurion Airport is an environmental challenge,” said Hagai Topolansky, Director General of the Israel Airports Authority. “Stopping the landing of four-engine planes at Ben Gurion Airport is one step and the first step in a broader plan that is currently being formulated.” In terms fuel per passenger mile, a fully loaded A380 beats many widebody twins, especially older designs like the Boeing 767, which is still in wide use by charter and cargo carriers.
Whatever is behind the ban, four-engine aircraft operators will need prior permission and a darned good reason to go to Tel Aviv, which has the only airport where it will be an issue. There are currently no airlines flying four-engine (A380, A340 or Boeing 747) aircraft with passengers, although Emirates was reportedly thinking of putting the A380 on its London-Tel Aviv route, which is now served with a 777. That leaves cargo carriers as the only airlines potentially facing equipment changes for Tel Aviv. El Al uses a 747-400 for flights to Liege and New York.
Decisions like this expose the gross ignorance typical among bureaucrats these days. Will this irrational ban include eVTOLs with 4-8 loud props?
Totally right!
I believe that Fed-Ex still has a large fleet of MD-11 freighters, which would not be affected, on the grounds of, er, environmental, noise and sustainability benefits?
Does this include Air Force 1? Anyway, I think it would be better to make smarter rules that include a reference to noise, emissions, fuel economy, etc and not the number of engines.
Of course, You’re right!
What if that 4 engine plane is using SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) ? It may be interesting to note that when ranked by aircraft, the 747 achieves between 80 and 120 passenger miles per gallon, depending on model and configuration. Slightly better than an A320. Same goes for cargo capacity by weight, mpg. However, the 787 in all it’s variants is considerably more efficient.
Curious decision by the Israelis.
Similarly to that one of continuing flying to Russia?
what if…
A four-banger shuts down one, just for take-offs and landings?
Of course, there would have to be a notice on the unused engine:
WARNING! THIS ENGINE IS FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY!
The story contained evidence of progress unrelated to the main point: Emirates has a London – Tel Aviv route. Cooperation between Egypt & Gulf States and Israel is now routine and benefits all parties. Such a turn of events would have been called a fantasy not so long ago. It shows that seemingly intractable problems can be overcome.
Dumb stupid rule. I had thought they were smarter than that.
Using bureaucrat and intelligence in the same sentence is an oxymoron