In the 51 years since I first flew abroad -- to Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus -- I never preferred a foreign airline over El Al, Israir and Arkia. If at all possible, I chose the blue-and-white option. I did so even after El Al transformed from Israel's national carrier into a private business. I wanted my money to stay in Israel. Nevertheless, I don't agree with the campaign El Al has mounted, with the backing of Histadrut Chairman Ofer Eini, against the "Open Skies" policy of Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud). I don't agree because there is a global economic reality, as well as an Israeli commitment to the European Union, not to mention a desire to integrate into the larger world economy. The "Open Skies" policy serves our national economy in many ways, though not without exacting a price. On the one hand, Israel has no choice but to adopt this policy, and it's a pity we didn't do so sooner. It's in our interest to adopt it. Not only will the Open Skies policy make up for local carriers' financial difficulties by bringing in additional tourists -- an estimated quarter of a million -- once it is implemented, the policy will force El Al to streamline and become more efficient. This is a necessary step for both El Al and the Israeli economy. Unfortunately, it seems that El Al can only be forced to streamline with the sword of financial crisis at its throat. Clearly, the Open Skies policy contains an element of political populism. Katz will reap the rewards in terms of public opinion just as former Communications Minister Moshe Kahlon emerged a hero from the cellular phone revolution he spearheaded. The public loves politicians who lower prices, but not those who raise taxes. Not everyone, however, is gifted with the leadership abilities of Margaret Thatcher, who put down angry strikes with an iron fist and was still the only person in the last 48 years to receive such a grandiose funeral in London. Her life motto is summed up in her statement on British television in 1982, on the day the British set sail to recover the Falkland Islands from Argentina: "If you fail, would you feel obliged to resign-" she was asked. "Failure-" she answered, "Do you remember what Queen Victoria once said? 'Failure -- the possibilities do not exist.'" But Katz must exercise cautious leadership. Kahlon's move to bring down cellular phone costs was the right thing to do, but in his zeal to reap the personal benefits, he failed to understand that change must be done gradually and not with coercion. The cellular companies, which definitely deserved to be punished, did not get a fair chance to adapt to the new circumstances over the long-term in an orderly way. Even though the public is currently enjoying the savings to their phone bills, in the long run we will pay for the hasty way the reform was undertaken. Katz must disregard the Histadrut's irresponsible behavior in shutting down our only international airport over a measure that will only be implemented a year from now. The government's approval of a decision already passed by the Knesset is no justification for a strike that will cost our economy a fortune, and for which Eini is not being asked to take responsibility. Nevertheless, the transportation minister must listen attentively to the real grievances of Israeli air carriers, which bear extra costs for being who they are. These include extra-high security costs as well as an inability to form partnerships with other airlines that have Arab ties. El Al has for too long worn a flak jacket of government protectionism. If the government removes this economic flak jacket, it must still move to offset the company's economic weaknesses, derived from its being blue and white. El Al deserves some sort of compensation. I want open skies, and even more I want to continue flying El Al.
