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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting the White House and addressing Congress this week, marking his first trip abroad on board Wing Of Zion, Israel's new Air Force One. This reconfigured aircraft is making its debut in operational service.
The 24-year-old Boeing 767-300ER, which previously served Qantas, was acquired by the Israeli Air Force in 2016 and converted to a VIP configuration in 2019. The aircraft was grounded during the pandemic for optical reasons, and successive prime ministers chose not to use it. In contrast, several El Al aircraft were chartered in the past for presidential and prime ministerial travel but lacked encrypted communications. Additionally, El Al pilots have previously refused to fly Netanyahu as a form of political protest.
Wing of Zion features four sections: the prime minister’s personal area, his senior aides' section, security and junior staff area, and a press section at the back. The plane includes a conference room, communications networks, and a surgery room. The interior has wood paneling between sections with blue seats featuring white headrests. Pilots are from the Israeli Air Force while flight attendants are permanently assigned from Arkia Israeli Airlines.
