Palestinian Airlines to be liquidated

The Palestinian Authorities have decided to pull the plug of Palestinian Airlines. The airline operated its duo of Fokker 50s (SU-YAH and -YAI) for Niger Airlines, but this deal was scrapped in April when the Corona-pandemic was developing. With no new flying oppertunities present, shutting down the airline and selling its assets was the only route left.

Palestinian Airlines was founded on 1 January 1995 and operations started in June 1997 with their two Fokker 50s. It operated out of Port Said in Egypt, but moved their operations to El Arish in Egypt a month later when they commenced scheduled flights to Amman and Jeddah. In November 1998, the airline moved to the newly opened Gaza Airport. In October 2000, the airline was forced to cease operations as the second Intifada started, which resulted in the destruction of Gaza Airport. Palestinian Airlines returned to El Arish and resumed operations from there in December 2001. Between 2005 and 2012 the airline was dormant again. In 2014 the airline decided to cease all of its own operations and fly their Fokkers for Niger Airlines.

Over the years, Palestinian Airlines also operated briefly a B727 (between March and October 1998) and also took delivery of two DHC-8-300s in 2000, but these were never really deployed. It also planned to acquire two CRJ-200s, but these were never delivered.

The Palestinian Authorities has asked Egypt to put the airline's AOC on hold so that it can be brought back if the need arises. They also want to keep using the Palestinian Airlines-name in order to offer Hajj charter-flights to the Palestinian people.