Tlv Airport Sabbath Operations: What Travelers Need To Know

Ben Gurion International Airport, or TLV, is the main international airport of Israel. It is situated on the outskirts of the city of Lod, 45 kilometres northwest of Jerusalem and 20 kilometres southeast of Tel Aviv. The airport is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including the Sabbath, the weekly day of rest in Judaism. However, the airport's operations are adjusted on the Sabbath to accommodate religious observances. Most shops and restaurants remain open, but the airport experiences less traffic and fewer flights.

TLV airport is open 24/7

Ben Gurion International Airport, commonly known by its Hebrew acronym Natbag, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This includes the Sabbath, the weekly day of rest and day of worship in Judaism, which runs from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday.

The airport is located on the outskirts of Lod, 45 kilometres northwest of Jerusalem and 20 kilometres southeast of Tel Aviv. It is the main international airport of Israel and the busiest airport in the country, handling 21.1 million passengers in 2023.

While the airport is open 24/7, it is quieter on the Sabbath, with less traffic and fewer flights. Most shops and restaurants remain open, but kosher restaurants and cafes are closed. There are also some transport disruptions during this time. El Al, Israel's flag carrier, does not operate on the Sabbath, except in special circumstances. Other forms of public transport, such as trains and buses, also do not run during the Sabbath, but taxis are available.

The airport offers a range of facilities for passengers, including VIP services for private jet passengers and crews. It is considered one of the best airports in the Middle East due to its passenger experience and high level of security.

Shops and restaurants remain open

Ben Gurion International Airport, or TLV, is the main international airport of Israel. It is located on the outskirts of the city of Lod, directly south of the city of Or Yehuda. The airport is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including the Sabbath, or Shabbat. While most shops and restaurants in Israel close during Shabbat, TLV remains operational with most of its shops and restaurants open to travellers.

During Shabbat, the airport is noticeably quieter with less traffic and fewer flights. Kosher restaurants and cafes are closed, but other food and beverage outlets remain open. In addition, there are limited ground transportation options during Shabbat. While taxis and private car rentals are available, public transportation such as buses and trains do not operate. This includes the Israel Railways train service and Egged buses, which normally provide connections to various destinations within the country.

Travellers arriving at TLV during Shabbat should be prepared for reduced services and plan their onward journey accordingly. Luggage storage facilities, for example, are closed on Saturdays. However, there are still places to sit and coffee shops open for those who need to wait at the airport.

It is worth noting that the Israeli Supreme Court has ruled that businesses in Tel Aviv must be closed on the Sabbath. However, this ruling does not appear to apply to the airport, which operates with special exemptions. As a result, TLV remains a convenient gateway to Israel even during the Shabbat period.

Fewer flights and less traffic

Ben Gurion International Airport, or TLV, is the main international airport of Israel. It is situated on the outskirts of the city of Lod, directly south of Or Yehuda, and is the busiest airport in the country. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including the Sabbath, or Shabbat. However, the airport is noticeably quieter on Fridays and during the Sabbath, with fewer flights and less traffic.

During the Sabbath, most establishments in Israel are closed, and public transport stops working. Local cafes, restaurants, shops, and institutions close late on Friday night and reopen on Sunday. All public transport options, except for taxis and service cabs, do not operate on the Sabbath. This includes trains and public buses, which do not run from Friday evening until Sunday morning.

Despite the airport being open, there are some changes in operations during the Sabbath. El Al, one of the airlines that serve as a hub for TLV, does not operate on the Sabbath, from sundown on Friday evening until sundown on Saturday evening, as a religious observance. An exception was made in 2023, when they operated flights from New York and Bangkok to assist in bringing reservists back to Israel. However, these flights were provided free of charge, with the cost borne by El Al and large US financial institutions.

The airport also sees some changes in its facilities during the Sabbath. While most shops and restaurants remain open, kosher restaurants and cafes are closed. Additionally, there may be differences in security procedures, with some travellers noting that security during the Sabbath felt more like that of a European airport since El Al was not operating.

Travelling to and from the airport during the Sabbath can be challenging due to the limited transport options. Taxis are available, but fares are generally higher on Friday and Saturday nights. Car rentals are also an option, but most car rental companies do not have set schedules for the Sabbath. For those travelling to Jerusalem, the Nesher shared taxi service operates 24/7 and provides transportation to any address in the city, except for inside the Old City.

Kosher restaurants are closed

Ben Gurion International Airport, or TLV, is the main international airport of Israel. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including the Sabbath. While the airport remains operational throughout the Sabbath, there are some noticeable differences in the level of service provided. Most shops and restaurants remain open, but the airport is quieter, with less traffic and fewer flights.

Kosher restaurants are generally closed on the Sabbath. This is because, according to Torah law, Jews are not supposed to prepare or sell food on this day. However, there are some exceptions. For example, if a kosher restaurant is owned and operated by non-Jews, it can remain open on the Sabbath, provided there is a kosher supervisor present to ensure that the rules are being followed. Additionally, some kosher establishments, such as bakeries, may also be open on the Sabbath.

While it is possible for a kosher restaurant to be open on the Sabbath, it may be difficult for them to obtain certification. This is because kosher certification requires supervision, which can be challenging to obtain on the Sabbath. As a result, many kosher restaurants that are open on the Sabbath may not have official certification, even if they follow the food-related laws of kashrut.

It is worth noting that the definition of "kosher" can vary depending on who you ask. Some people may consider a restaurant kosher as long as the food itself complies with the food-related laws of kashrut, even if it is open on the Sabbath. Others may argue that a truly kosher restaurant would need to be closed on the Sabbath, as selling food on this day violates the prohibition of the day.

Ultimately, the decision to keep a kosher restaurant closed on the Sabbath or not may depend on the ownership and their interpretation of kosher laws and supervision.

Transport options are limited

Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) is the main international airport of Israel. It is situated on the outskirts of the city of Lod and is about 45 kilometres from Jerusalem and 20 kilometres from Tel Aviv. The airport is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including the Sabbath. However, transport options to and from the airport are limited during the Sabbath.

During the Sabbath, most establishments across Israel are closed, and public transport stops operating. This includes trains and public buses, which do not run from early Friday evening until Sunday morning. While the airport remains open, there are limited transport options for those travelling to or from the airport during this time.

One option for travellers during the Sabbath is to take a taxi. Taxis are exempt from the Shabbat restrictions and are available for transport to and from the airport. Both private and shared taxis are available, with shared taxis known as "monit sherut" or "service cab" in Hebrew. These shared taxis operate to Jerusalem, Haifa, and Beersheba. It is important to note that taxi fares are generally higher on Friday and Saturday nights, and some drivers may not use the meter, resulting in higher charges.

Another option for travellers is to use a car rental service. Car rental companies are available at the airport, but it is important to check their operating hours in advance as their availability during the Sabbath may vary. Additionally, travellers can opt for an airport transfer service, such as the ORMAX shuttle service, which offers 24/7 shuttle transfers to Jerusalem with a choice of car types.

It is worth noting that while the airport remains operational during the Sabbath, there may be reduced flight traffic and fewer passengers. Some airlines, such as El Al, do not operate on the Sabbath as a religious observance, which can contribute to the quieter atmosphere at the airport during this time.

Frequently asked questions