Ruth Haines
Palestine's internal travel is hindered by roadblocks, curfews, and closures, with approximately 700 obstacles across the West Bank, including 140 checkpoints. As a result, there are no civilian airports within the West Bank, and the closest airport to Ramallah is Jerusalem Airport, which is now defunct. The closest major airport to Ramallah is Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, which is 50km away.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Are there any airports in Ramallah? | No |
| Closest airport to Ramallah | Jerusalem Airport, 6km away |
| Other nearby airports | Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, 50km away; Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, 285km away |
| Airports in Palestine | None currently active |
| Airports in the Gaza Strip | Yasser Arafat International Airport (closed in 2001) |
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What You'll Learn
Ramallah does not have an airport
There are no civilian airports within the West Bank, and overseas travel is restricted by security measures and screenings. Palestinians with ID cards are not permitted to travel through Ben Gurion Airport and must go through Jordan instead. There are around 700 road obstacles in the West Bank, including 140 checkpoints, which hinder internal travel.
There was once an airport near Ramallah, located 5km from the city and 10km from Jerusalem. This airport was opened in 1924 as a British army military base called 'Kolundia Airfield'. In 1948, it came under Jordanian supervision and was turned into a civil airport named Jerusalem Airport. Israel took control of the airport in 1967 and used it for domestic flights until 2000. Today, the site is derelict and has been largely reclaimed by nature.
There have been proposals to reopen the airport, with the former Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister Issawi Freij suggesting it could be shared by Israel and the Palestinian Authority. However, these plans have been rejected by the Palestinian Authority as a "unilateral act" that emphasises racial segregation.
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The closest airport to Ramallah is Jerusalem Airport, 6km away
The closest airport to Ramallah is Jerusalem Airport, which is located just 6km away. However, it's important to note that this airport is no longer operational. Once a bustling hub, it now lies derelict, with nature reclaiming much of its infrastructure.
Jerusalem Airport has a long and complex history. It first opened in 1924 or 1925 as a British army military base known as 'Kolundia Airfield'. After the establishment of Israel in 1948, the airport came under Jordanian supervision, along with the rest of the Palestinian West Bank. Jordan turned it into a civil airport in the early 1950s, naming it the Jerusalem Airport.
In 1967, Israel gained control of the airport and used it for domestic and charter flights until 2000. International aviation authorities did not allow international flights to land there during this period, as the airport was located in lands captured by Israel. Security issues during the Second Intifada led to the airport's closure to civilian air traffic in October 2000, and by July 2001, it was handed over to the Israeli Defense Forces.
Today, there are no active civilian airports within the West Bank. Travellers to Ramallah typically fly into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport and then take a taxi, shuttle, or bus to Jerusalem, from where they can continue to Ramallah and other major West Bank cities. This journey from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem takes around 50 minutes by taxi or shuttle. It is important to note that Palestinian ID cardholders cannot travel through Ben Gurion Airport and must fly to Amman, Jordan, instead entering via the Allenby Bridge border crossing near Jericho in the West Bank.
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The closest major airport is Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, 50km away
Ramallah is a city in the West Bank, Palestine. There are no civilian airports within the West Bank, and the closest major airport to Ramallah is Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, 50km away.
Ben Gurion Airport is located in Tel Aviv, Israel. From there, it is possible to take a 50-minute taxi or shuttle ride to Jerusalem. Travellers can then continue on to Ramallah, which is a two-to-three-hour shared taxi ride away. It is important to note that Palestinian ID cardholders cannot travel through Ben Gurion Airport. They must fly to Amman, Jordan, and enter via the Allenby Bridge border crossing near Jericho in the West Bank.
There are no active airports in Palestine. The closest airport to Ramallah within the Palestinian Territories is the now-defunct Jerusalem Airport, located 10km from the city. It was opened in 1924 as a British army military base known as 'Kolundia Airfield'. In the 1950s, Jordan took control of the airport and turned it into a civil airport. Israel took control of the airport in 1967 and used it for domestic flights until 2000. The airport has been closed to civilian air traffic since the outbreak of the Second Intifada in 2000.
There have been discussions about reopening Jerusalem Airport, with former Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister Issawi Freij proposing that it be shared by Israel and the Palestinian Authority. However, the Palestinian Authority has demanded that Israel reopen the airport, citing its historical significance as a Palestinian airport within the 1967 borders.
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There are no civilian airports in the West Bank
Historically, there was an airport in the West Bank, known as Jerusalem Airport or Qalandiya Airport. It was opened in 1924 or 1925 as a British army military base, and was later used for civilian flights. However, it was closed to civilian air traffic in 2000, and the site is now derelict.
Palestinians have demanded the reopening of Qalandiya Airport, which lies within the 1967 borders and is historically Palestinian. However, Israel has proposed that the airport be shared with the Palestinian Authority, which has been rejected as emphasising racial segregation.
In addition to Qalandiya Airport, there was once another airport in the Gaza Strip called Yasser Arafat International Airport. This airport was opened in 1998 and served as the base of Palestinian Airlines. However, it ceased operations in 2001 during the Second Intifada and was progressively destroyed by Israel.
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Palestinians cannot use Ben Gurion Airport without a special permit
There are no currently active airports in Palestine. The closest major airport to Ramallah, Palestinian Territories, is Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, which is located 50km away. Palestinians cannot use this airport without a special permit.
The history of Palestinian aviation is tumultuous, with the only international airport in the region, Yasser Arafat International Airport, ceasing operations in 2001 during the Second Intifada. The airport was jointly operated by Israelis and Palestinians and was seen as a symbol of collaboration and progress towards Palestinian statehood. However, the outbreak of the Second Intifada in September 2000 led to its closure, with the Israeli military bombing the radar station and bulldozing the runway in December 2001.
The closure of Yasser Arafat International Airport left Palestinians without an airport of their own. While there have been discussions and attempts to reopen the airport or build new ones, these efforts have been hindered by ongoing conflicts and political changes. For example, in 2005, Israel and the Palestinian Authority signed the Agreement on Movement and Access, which included discussions about reopening the airport. However, this agreement became moot when Hamas gained power in the Gaza Strip and conflicts with Israel escalated.
As a result, Palestinians who wish to travel internationally must rely on other means, such as land crossings or obtaining special permits to use Israeli airports like Ben Gurion Airport. The process of obtaining these permits can be challenging and time-consuming, and even with a permit, Palestinians may face difficulties and discrimination when travelling through Israeli airports. This situation highlights the complex realities of life for Palestinians under Israeli occupation and the ongoing struggles for statehood and freedom of movement.
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Frequently asked questions
No, there is no airport in Ramallah.
There are no currently active airports in Palestine. However, there have been airports in the past, including the Jerusalem International Airport, also known as the Qalandiya Airport, and the Yasser Arafat International Airport in the Gaza Strip.
The Jerusalem International Airport was opened in 1924 as a British army military base called 'Kolundia Airfield'. It became a civil airport under Jordanian supervision in the early 1950s and was renamed the Jerusalem Airport. Israel took control of the airport in 1967 and used it for domestic and charter flights until 2000, when it was closed to civilian air traffic due to the Second Intifada. Today, the airport is a derelict site.
The Yasser Arafat International Airport was built as a result of the Oslo Accords and opened in 1998 as Gaza International Airport. It served as the base of Palestinian Airlines and could handle 700,000 passengers per year. However, the airport ceased operations in 2001 during the Second Intifada and was progressively destroyed by Israel during the conflict and subsequent looting.
To travel to Ramallah by air, you can fly to a nearby airport such as Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport or Amman's Queen Alia International Airport. From there, you can take a taxi, shuttle, or bus to Jerusalem and then on to Ramallah. Note that there may be restrictions based on your citizenship and that internal travel within Palestine can be hindered by checkpoints, roadblocks, and other obstacles.
