There have been a few notable airlines in Palestine that have facilitated connections abroad, particularly for (but not limited to) pilgrimages. However, following the Israeli destruction of both Jerusalem Airport and Gaza International Airport, the picture of the Palestinian aviation industry is at present very bleak. No airline currently flies to Palestine, not least because there is no commercial airport to operate to that can accommodate passengers.
are the three important commercial air carriers in region's history. Palestine Airways, registered in London in December 1934, was founded by Pinhas Rutenberg, a Russian businessman and hydraulic engineer. It was established in collaboration with Britain's Imperial Airways, which provided operational and technical support, complemented by an investment of 20,000 pounds of shares.
It began operations in 1937, with the opening ceremony at Lydda Airport in August 1937. Rutenberg, while a Zionist, saw a need to work with local Palestinians and hired Arab workers in contrast to the labor movement's demands to employ Jews exclusively. He did not recognize their nationalist motives but instead accepted their status as the indigenous population.
His motives were also economic: it made sense to employ workers who spoke Arabic and were culturally Arabs to foster relations with neighboring countries and hopefully make a profit. The airline began with two British-built Short S.16 Scion aircraft with space for six passengers.
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