The Secret Bills of 'Sion Wing'.. How Much Did Netanyahu's Plane Cost?

SadaNews - A partial response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office to a request submitted by the Freedom of Information Movement under the Freedom of Information Act revealed some details about the cost of the Israeli Prime Minister's plane "Sion Wing," but left fundamental questions unanswered regarding the actual cost of the project, according to a report published by Yedioth Ahronoth.

According to official documents, the "Sion Wing" project was completed in December 2021, with a total construction cost of 364.91 million shekels (122.5 million dollars). However, the response did not clarify whether this amount includes the price paid for purchasing the plane from the Australian airline "Qantas," which was 76 million shekels (25.5 million dollars), according to the newspaper's report.

These figures contradict estimates from the Israeli State Comptroller's Office, which indicate that the total cost of the project reached approximately 729 million shekels (244.5 million dollars), including the aircraft's purchase, its upgrades, the conversion into a passenger aircraft designated for leadership, equipping it with advanced communication and defense systems, as well as establishing the necessary infrastructure for its operation, including a dedicated hangar at Nevatim Air Base.

Although the document from the Prime Minister's office shows that the construction cost does not exceed half the value estimated by the State Comptroller for the project as a whole, it does not provide a breakdown of the expenditure items and does not clarify whether it includes all project components, leaving the final cost of the "Sion Wing" aircraft shrouded in ambiguity.

Maintenance and Operating Costs

Following the completion of the "Sion Wing" project, a transitional phase ensued during which the plane and its dedicated infrastructure underwent regular maintenance, lasting until August 2023, at a cost of 17.5 million shekels (about 6 million dollars).

The aircraft entered operational service in February 2024, through a flight to Athens that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend, before officially launching its use during his first flight aboard it to Washington on July 22, 2024.

According to the data, the actual operational period of the aircraft began in September 2023, and the office agreed to disclose its operating costs through the end of 2025.

In 2023, operating expenses amounted to about 6.27 million shekels (nearly 2 million dollars).

In 2024, operating costs reached 34.18 million shekels (11.5 million dollars), distributed as follows:

18.28 million shekels (6 million dollars) in fixed payments.

8.55 million shekels (3 million dollars) in variable payments based on flight activity.

7.35 million shekels (2.5 million dollars) in one-time payments (changes/upgrades and purchases).

In 2025, operating costs were 18.67 million shekels (6 million dollars), detailed as follows:

13.17 million shekels (4.5 million dollars) in fixed payments.

5.5 million shekels (about 2 million dollars) in variable payments based on flight activity.

9 million shekels (3 million dollars) in one-time payments.

Decrease in Operating Costs

Additional data indicates that total operating costs from 2023 to 2025 reached 60 million shekels (20 million dollars), while costs in 2025 decreased by approximately 50% compared to 2024. This may be attributed to the limited number of flights taken by Netanyahu over the past year due to arrest warrants issued against him, which restricted his travels to Hungary and a few to the United States.

The Prime Minister's office refused to disclose the operating cost of each of the "Sion Wing" flights separately, including categories such as the total crew wages, security costs, and so on, alongside any resources or infrastructure required for each flight, like fuel, food, phone communications, as well as receiving the annual insurance coverage costs separately, differentiating between passenger insurance, luggage insurance, and any additional insurance types, if present.

The reason for rejection was justified by stating that "disclosing these details would constitute a violation of state security or the safety or welfare of any person." For the same reasons, the request for costs of regular maintenance for each calendar year separately was also denied, including costs for the aircraft cabin maintenance, repairs, design modifications, and protection.

Concealing Essential Information

Heidi Negev, the executive director of the Freedom of Information Movement, stated: "By disclosing the operating costs of the 'Sion Wing' aircraft, it is now evident that it is a much more expensive option than renting a plane for use by the Prime Minister."

She mentioned that it is infuriating that the Prime Minister's office still conceals essential information about the costs, starting from the one-time upgrades made on the "Sion Wing" at a cost of 7.35 million shekels (2.5 million dollars).