The airline Palestinian Airlines has had an extremely eventful history since it was founded in 1995. This is also characterized by many years of aviation inactivity. Actually, the carrier should no longer exist, as it was announced that it would be liquidated in 2020. Now we are preparing for the restart with a Fokker 50.

Palestinian Airlines was founded in 1995 by the Palestinian Authority. The first charter flights were only carried out in 1997. Initially, the Egyptian Port Said airport was used because Israel has banned flights from Gaza. Over time, the Boeing 727-100/200, de Havilland Dash 8-300, Ilyushin Il-62 and Fokker 50 were operated.

In November 1998, flight operations were transferred from Al-Arish Airport to Gaza Airport, which was built with funding from Germany, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco and Japan. This airport was closed by Israel in 2001 during the Second Intifada and was rendered unusable later that year and in 2002. So Palestinian Airlines had to “move” back to Egypt.

Flight operations were stopped in 2005 before they were surprisingly reactivated in 2012. The flight again took place from al-Arisch Airport. Most recently, two Fokker 50s were in use for Niger Airlines as part of an ACMI order. The collaboration ended shortly after the outbreak of the corona pandemic.

Later in 2020, the autonomous authority announced that the airline, which then only had eight employees, would be permanently closed and liquidated. Just a few weeks ago it was announced that they were looking for a buyer for both Fokker 50s. According to Niger Airlines, SU-YAH was sold to them.

Now Palestinian Airlines surprised everyone with the announcement that they are preparing to resume flight operations. A Fokker 50 completed its first test flights at Cairo Airport in Egypt just this month. What is noteworthy is that the announcement was accompanied by extremely patriotic and anti-Israel text. The emphasis that the test flight was carried out by a Palestinian crew is still very mild. The carrier has not yet revealed any further information that would help the cause in any way and not be patriotic propaganda.

Since the published video does not show the SU-YAI, but rather the SU-YAH, there are reasonable doubts that it is actually preparations for a possible comeback as an airline. It is much more obvious that the plane, which is said to have been sold to Niger Airlines, was serviced in Cairo and was being prepared for handover to the buyer. Test flights are completely common there. Based on the propaganda-like posting with which Palestinian Airlines shared the video of the landing after the test flight in Cairo, it is obvious that the restart, despite the fact that it was vaguely announced, is very unlikely. It can also be assumed that in Gaza, the West Bank and Egypt, due to the war started by Hamas, reviving a failed airline may not have a particularly high priority.