Lois Larson
Ben Gurion Airport in Israel is one of the busiest airports in the Middle East, serving as a hub for several airlines and accommodating over 20 million passengers in 2023. However, in late 2024, the airport faced a significant challenge as Terminal 1 closed to international flights due to a sharp decline in air travel following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. This closure, initially scheduled until March 2025, was attributed to decreased passenger traffic and the suspension of services by low-cost carriers such as easyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air. Despite the challenges, Ben Gurion Airport has consistently been recognised for its high level of security and positive passenger experience.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Ben Gurion International Airport |
| IATA | TLV |
| ICAO | LLBG |
| Hebrew-language acronym | Natbag |
| Location | Outskirts north of the city of Lod and directly south of the city of Or Yehuda |
| Distance from Jerusalem | 45 kilometres (28 miles) |
| Distance from Tel Aviv | 20 kilometres (12 miles) |
| Parking spaces | 20,000 |
| Car rental | Avis, Budget, Eldan, Tamir Rental, Thrifty, Hertz, and Shlomo Sixt |
| Terminal 1 status | Closed to international flights until March 2025 due to a sharp decline in air travel |
| Daily passenger numbers at Terminal 1 | 20,000 |
| Airlines that have halted flights to Tel Aviv | Wizz Air, Ryanair, easyJet |
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What You'll Learn
Ben Gurion Airport's Terminal 1 closed to international flights
Ben Gurion Airport's Terminal 1 in Tel Aviv will be closed to international flights for five months, starting from 1 November 2024. The closure is due to a decrease in passenger traffic, with most of the terminal's tenants stopping flights to Tel Aviv due to security concerns.
The Israeli Airport Authority (IAA) announced on Monday that it would shutter most operations at Terminal 1, which briefly opened seven months after the war started, anticipating an influx in tourism. However, passenger numbers at the terminal have dropped to approximately 20,000 travellers per day due to flight cancellations. As a result, low-cost carriers have cancelled their services, making it impossible to keep the terminal fully functional.
Wizz Air, the fourth-largest foreign carrier at Ben Gurion Airport, does not plan to fly to Tel Aviv before January 2025. Meanwhile, Ryanair and easyJet are discussing resuming flights in March or April. Other airlines, such as Lufthansa, British Airways, and Delta, have already announced the suspension of their flights to Israel following travel advisories from the UK government and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
During the closure, domestic flights will continue to operate out of Terminal 1. Before the opening of Terminal 3, Terminal 1 was the main terminal building at Ben Gurion Airport. The airport is also undergoing a long-term expansion plan, which includes the further expansion of Terminal 1, a new dedicated domestic flights terminal, and a major expansion of Terminal 3's landside terminal.
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Domestic flights continue to operate out of Terminal 1
Ben Gurion Airport in Israel has been the target of Palestinian attacks. However, strict security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. In light of the security situation in the Middle East, Terminal 1 of the airport briefly closed its doors to international flights in late 2024, with all such flights operating out of Terminal 3 instead. The closure was also due to a decrease in passenger traffic, with daily passenger numbers dropping to just 20,000, and low-cost carriers cancelling services.
Despite the closure of Terminal 1 to international flights, domestic flights continued to operate out of this terminal as usual. This included flights to Eilat, a popular tourist destination in Israel. The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) confirmed that domestic flights would continue to be handled at Terminal 1 until further notice.
The decision to close Terminal 1 to international flights was made after several low-cost carriers, including easyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air, extended their suspension of flights to Tel Aviv. These carriers cited security concerns and a sharp decline in air travel to Israel following the October 2023 Hamas attack and the resulting war as reasons for their decision.
The closure of Terminal 1 to international flights was expected to last until March 2025. During this time, domestic flights continued to operate out of Terminal 1, ensuring that passengers within Israel could still travel to their destinations. It is important to note that the availability and frequency of these domestic flights may have been impacted by the overall decrease in air travel to and within Israel during this period.
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The closure is due to a sharp decline in air travel to Israel
Ben Gurion Airport in Israel has been impacted by a sharp decline in air travel to the country. The airport, located on the outskirts of Lod and around 20 kilometres from Tel Aviv, is the main international airport for Israel and is considered one of the best in the Middle East. However, it has faced significant challenges due to the decrease in passenger numbers.
In October 2024, it was announced that Terminal 1 of the airport would close to international flights until March 2025. This decision was made due to the drop in passenger traffic, with daily passenger numbers falling to around 20,000. The closure is a result of the sharp decline in air travel to Israel since the October 2023 Hamas attack and the subsequent war. Several budget carriers, including Wizz Air, Ryanair, and easyJet, have cancelled their services to Tel Aviv, citing security concerns. These airlines accounted for a significant number of flights to the airport, with Wizz Air operating almost 80 flights a week during the summer of 2024.
The suspension of these flights has had a notable impact on the operations of Ben Gurion Airport. With the loss of these carriers, the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) determined that it was no longer feasible to keep Terminal 1 fully operational for international flights. As a result, all international flights will now be handled solely at Terminal 3, while a small number of domestic flights will continue to operate from Terminal 1.
The decline in air travel to Israel has also affected ticket prices. Mark Feldman, a travel industry expert, noted that ticket prices have skyrocketed due to limited flights and high demand. Economy tickets from Israel to New York, which typically cost around $800 during the low season, are now priced at a minimum of $2,000. The industry has witnessed a 50% increase in nonstop fares overall.
Despite these challenges, Ben Gurion Airport remains a critical hub for air travel in the region. It is expected that many international carriers will resume flights once a complete ceasefire is in place.
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Budget airlines have halted flights to Tel Aviv
Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv is a popular destination for flights from the United States. However, in recent times, it has experienced a decrease in passenger traffic, with several budget and low-cost airlines halting their services to the city.
El Al, a popular Israeli airline, has continued to run flights to the U.S., including to New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, even during the Israel-Gaza war, with a brief stoppage. However, other major U.S. airlines, including Delta, United, and American Airlines, have confirmed that they do not plan to restart flights to Tel Aviv until at least the second half of 2025, citing security concerns.
Israir, a low-cost airline based in Tel Aviv, has expressed interest in launching flights to New York, specifically to Newark, four times a week. This route is currently awaiting approval. Before the Israel-Gaza war, several airlines offered dozens of weekly flights between Tel Aviv and New York, but now, very few international carriers service this route.
Some international airlines that still offer limited service to Tel Aviv include Flydubai, based in the United Arab Emirates, Athens-based Aegean Airlines, and Ethiopian Airlines, which caters to Israel's Ethiopian diaspora. While Lufthansa and Air France initially planned to restart flights to Tel Aviv in 2024, they ultimately canceled these plans.
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International flights will operate out of Terminal 3
Ben Gurion Airport in Israel is undergoing some changes in operations due to a decline in air travel following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, which resulted in war. The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) has announced that Terminal 1 will be closed to international flights from November 1, 2024, until March 23, 2025. This decision is a result of decreasing passenger numbers, with daily passenger numbers dropping to around 20,000, and the suspension of flights by low-cost carriers such as easyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air.
During this period, international flights will operate solely out of Terminal 3. Terminal 3 has been the primary terminal for international flights at Ben Gurion Airport since its opening. Prior to that, Terminal 1 served as the main terminal for all flights, both domestic and international. Now, Terminal 1 will continue to handle a small number of domestic flights, including those to Eilat, as well as special immigrant flights from North America and Africa.
The closure of Terminal 1 to international flights is expected to impact budget airlines that relied on the lower operating costs of the terminal. Several budget carriers have already halted their flights to Tel Aviv, and it is likely that ticket prices will increase due to limited flight options and high demand. This situation has led to a 50% increase in nonstop fares, with economy tickets from Israel to New York now costing at least $2,000 during the low season, compared to around $800 two years ago.
Despite the challenges, Ben Gurion International Airport remains a significant aviation hub in the region. With its high level of security and focus on passenger experience, it has consistently ranked highly among airports worldwide. The airport serves as a hub for several airlines, including El Al, Israir, Arkia, and Sundor, and is managed by the IAA. In 2023, the airport handled 21.1 million passengers, making it one of the busiest airports in the Middle East.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Ben Gurion Airport is not shut down, but Terminal 1 is closed to all international flights until March 2025. This is due to a sharp decline in air travel since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the ongoing war. Domestic flights continue to operate out of Terminal 1.
Terminal 1 was closed due to a decrease in passenger traffic, with daily passenger numbers dropping to around 20,000. This was a result of the security situation in the region and the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. Several budget carriers, including Wizz Air, Ryanair, and easyJet, have also cancelled their services to Tel Aviv.
Yes, Ben Gurion Airport has Terminal 3, which currently handles all international flights. Before Terminal 3 opened, Terminal 1 was the main terminal building. Terminal 2 was also operational until 2007 but was demolished to make way for additional air freight handling areas.
Yes, Ben Gurion Airport is the main international airport of Israel and one of the busiest airports in the Middle East. In 2023, the airport handled 21.1 million passengers and was ranked 8th out of 77 airports worldwide in a customer satisfaction survey.
