“In Jerusalem, the (e.g. British) Government flatly refused the request of foreign airlines for the use of the Jerusalem airport of the Royal Air Force for a shuttle service to save passengers the hazardous road trip from Lydda. The Government said it would increase road patrols.
John R. Keegan, district manager of Trans World Airline, said tonight that the operators still considered the situation unsatisfactory and were still hoping to get permission to operate a Jerusalem Lydda shuttle service with light planes.
The request for the use of Kallandia, The Jerusalem airport which still belongs to the Royal Air Force but is almost unused was made as soon as the road became dangerous, and was finally refused today.”
Source: New York Times, December 25, 1947