Military Airports In Israel: How Many Are There?

Israel is a small country that attracts millions of tourists every year, thanks to its intriguing beauty and proximity to the holy land of Jerusalem. The country's airports play a crucial role in handling the heavy influx of tourists and pilgrims. While Israel has three main international airports, there are also several other military airports and airbases in the country. Ben Gurion Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Israel, serving as the main gateway for international travel. Ramon Airport, the second-largest airport, serves as the primary diversion airport for Ben Gurion. Haifa Airport, another international airport, is smaller in scale and also houses a military base alongside its civilian terminal. In addition to these, there are about 14 other airstrips across Israel and the Golan Heights, used for private flights, emergency landings, and flight training. Israel's military airbases are owned by the Israeli Air Force, with some, like the Palmachim Airbase, even housing a spaceport.

Israel's main airport, Ben Gurion, has a military airbase on its eastern side

Ben Gurion Airport was built in 1936 during World War II to serve as a base for military purposes. The airport is of great importance to Israel as it is one of the few convenient entry points into the country for most travellers. It serves as a hub for several airlines and is managed by the Israel Airports Authority. The airport has four terminals, out of which only two are operational, Terminal 1 and Terminal 3.

The airport has a sophisticated security system, with multiple levels of security checks for departing and arriving passengers. It has been the target of several terrorist attacks, but no aircraft departing from Ben Gurion Airport has ever been hijacked. The airport offers various facilities for passengers, including currency exchange, luggage storage, ATMs, VIP lounges, business centres, airport shuttles, parking facilities, Wi-Fi, and medical facilities.

In addition to Ben Gurion Airport, there are several other airports in Israel, including Haifa Airport and Ramon Airport, which also have military bases alongside their civilian terminals. Israel has a total of three international airports and about 14 other airstrips used for private and training purposes.

Haifa Airport has a military base alongside its civilian terminal

Haifa Airport, also known as Uri Michaeli Airport, is a small international airport in Haifa, Israel. It was established in 1934 by the British Mandate as its first international airport in the region. The airport is named after Uri Michaeli, a pioneer of Jewish aviation and a founder of aviation in Israel.

Haifa Airport mainly serves civilian flights, with some military usage. The airport has a short runway, measuring 1,318 metres (4,324 ft) in length, with plans to extend it by 316 metres (1,037 ft). The airport is located close to Kishon Port and Israel Shipyards, which makes it useful for commercial and military purposes, in addition to civilian flights.

The airport reopened for passenger traffic in 1948 with flights operated by Cyprus Airways. In 1994, the airport received international status, with plans to serve flights to destinations across Europe. However, these services did not take off as expected, and it wasn't until 1996, with the start of Israir flights, that the airport began to grow. A new terminal was opened in 1998 to cater to the services of a modern international airport.

In 2001, there were discussions about expanding the airport to bring it to an international standard. In 2007, the airport saw a rise in passenger numbers and aircraft movements, with a 25% increase in passengers and a 7% increase in aircraft movements compared to the previous year. The Israel Airports Authority intends to extend the runway to 1,634 m (5,361 ft) in the 2020s, which will involve extending it northwards, with Julius Simon Road passing underneath in a tunnel.

Hatzor Airport was built on the Hatzor Airbase

Israel has three international airports, two domestic airports, and about 14 other airstrips, which are mostly used privately or for flight training. All military airbases are owned by the Israeli Air Force.

The Hatzor Airbase has a long history of serving as an important military airfield for both the Royal Air Force and the Israeli Air Force. During World War II, it served as a base for the Royal Air Force, and in 1948, it became the first military aircraft squadron in Israel. The airbase has been home to various squadrons throughout its history, including the 101 Squadron "First Fighter," the 105 Squadron "Scorpion," the 109 Squadron "The Valley," and the 113 Squadron "Hornet."

Over the years, the Hatzor Airbase has seen the deployment of different types of aircraft, including propeller planes, fighter jets, and UAVs. In 2021, the last remaining fighter jet squadrons were relocated, and since then, the airbase has primarily housed patrol aircraft, UAVs, and defense missiles. The airbase has also been affected by repeated flooding due to its location in a valley between two streams. Despite these challenges, the Hatzor Airbase continues to play a significant role in Israel's military aviation.

Atarot Airport was reopened in 2020 after being closed down in 2000

Atarot Airport, also known as Jerusalem Airport, was reopened in 2020 after being closed down in 2000. The airport was initially opened in 1925 as the first airport in the British Mandate for Palestine. It was located in Jerusalem and was used by the British military authorities and prominent guests visiting Jerusalem.

In 1931, the Mandatory government expropriated land from the Jewish village of Atarot to expand the airfield, demolishing homes and uprooting orchards. The airport was then opened for regular flights in 1936. During the British Mandate and Jordanian periods, the airport was called Qalandiyah.

After the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, the village of Atarot was captured and destroyed by the Jordanian Arab Legion during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The airport was under Jordanian control between 1948 and 1967, designated OJJR. During this period, it served as a regional hub, with around 100,000 passengers a year and flights to various destinations, including Iran and Qatar.

However, after Israel won the Six-Day War in 1967, foreign airlines refused to use the airport. Israel began its military occupation of the territory previously annexed by Jordan, including the airport. Despite attempts to revitalise the airport, international aviation authorities did not allow international flights due to the airport being located in lands captured by Israel. As a result, it was primarily used for domestic flights and charter flights.

In 2000, due to the outbreak of the Second Intifada, the airport was closed to civilian air traffic, and by 2001, it was formally handed over to the Israel Defense Forces. The closure of Atarot Airport left Ben Gurion Airport as the main entrance and exit airport for Israel, located 20 km south of Tel Aviv.

In recent years, there have been proposals to redevelop the site of Atarot Airport. One plan includes building a huge ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood, while another proposal suggests converting the site into a municipal park and cultural centre.

Israel's only spaceport is part of a military airbase

Israel has three international airports, with another two designated as domestic airports. All military airbases in Israel are owned by the Israeli Air Force.

Palmachim Airbase, located west of the city of Yavne on the Mediterranean coast, is Israel's only spaceport. It is jointly operated by the Israeli Air Force and the Israel Space Agency. The spaceport is also home to the development and production of missile and propulsion systems, satellite communication systems, and the space-related activities of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

The Palmachim Airbase was established in the second half of the 1960s and has been used to test rockets and projectiles. It is Israel's primary spaceport and is used to launch the Shavit space launch vehicle into retrograde orbit. Due to Israel's geographical location and hostile relations with neighbouring countries, launches take off towards the west over the Mediterranean Sea. This avoids flying over enemy countries and prevents debris from falling into populated areas.

The Israel Space Agency, a governmental body that coordinates all Israeli space research programs, was founded in 1983 by theoretical physicist Yuval Ne'eman. Israel is the smallest country with indigenous launch capabilities and the smallest to have a space agency.

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