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Jerusalem International Airport, located in Jerusalem, was the first airport in the British Mandate for Palestine when it opened in 1925. It was closed to civilian air traffic in 2000 due to security issues during the Second Intifada. Today, there are no airports in Jerusalem, but Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's main international airport, is located near Lod, 35 minutes from Jerusalem and about a half-hour drive from Tel Aviv. This airport is served by around 70 major international airlines and offers direct flights to Tel Aviv from major cities worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Jerusalem International Airport |
| IATA | JRS |
| ICAO | LLJR |
| OJJR | OJJR |
| Year opened | 1925 |
| Operator | Israel Airports Authority |
| Location | Jerusalem |
| Year closed to civilian traffic | 2000 |
| Current status | Closed |
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What You'll Learn
Jerusalem International Airport's history
Jerusalem International Airport (IATA: JRS, ICAO: LLJR, OJJR) was a regional airport located in Jerusalem. When it first opened in 1925, it was the first airport in the British Mandate for Palestine. Under the British Mandate, the former Cyprus Airways flew to the airport, and this continued intermittently even after Cyprus gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1960.
Following the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the airport was occupied by Jordan, alongside the rest of the West Bank. In 1950, it became part of the Jordanian annexation of the West Bank. Between 1948 and 1967, Royal Jordanian Airlines, as well as Middle East Airlines from Lebanon, operated daily commercial flights to and from the airport.
In 1967, Israel won the Six-Day War and began its military occupation of the previously Jordanian-annexed territories, including the airport. From 1967 to 2000, Arkia and El Al operated daily commercial flights to and from the airport. However, in 2000, Israel closed the airport to all civilian traffic following the outbreak of the Second Intifada.
In July 2001, the airport was formally handed over to the Israel Defense Forces. The Palestinian delegation rejected Israel's proposal to include Atarot in the Israeli built-up area of Jerusalem, envisioning it instead as a national airport for the Palestinians. Yossi Beilin proposed that the airport be used jointly as part of a shared Jerusalem between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. However, in November 2021, Israel shelved plans to redevelop the Jerusalem airport site due to pressure from the Biden administration in the United States.
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Closest airport to Jerusalem
Jerusalem is a city steeped in history, home to the Western Wall, Dome of the Rock, and Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It attracts millions of tourists every year with its fascinating landscapes and religious places.
There is currently no airport in Jerusalem. The closest international airport to Jerusalem is Ben Gurion Airport, which is located near Lod, about 35 minutes from Jerusalem and 30 minutes from Tel Aviv. It is the biggest airport in Israel and the main entrance and exit airport for the country. Around 70 major international airlines offer flights to Ben Gurion Airport, including direct flights from most major European and American cities, as well as from Africa and the Far East. The airport was completely renovated in 2004 and is equipped with duty shops, restaurants, banks, and currency exchange offices.
Another option for reaching Jerusalem by air is to fly to Haifa Airport, which is a small international airport located near the Israeli shipyards and Kishon port. It is used for civilian flights, as well as commercial and military operations. From Haifa, you can take a shared taxi called "monit sherut" to Jerusalem.
It is worth noting that there is also an airport in Eilat, called Uvda airport, which is mainly served by charter flights. However, it is a five-hour bus ride between Eilat and Jerusalem, so it may not be the most convenient option for those specifically travelling to Jerusalem.
Finally, it is important to mention that Jerusalem did have its own airport, called Jerusalem International Airport, which was opened in 1925 and was the first airport in the British Mandate for Palestine. However, following the outbreak of the Second Intifada in 2000, the airport was closed to all civilian traffic and handed over to the Israel Defense Forces in 2001.
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Airlines that fly to Jerusalem
Jerusalem is served by Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport, which is about 25 miles from Downtown Jerusalem. It is the main airport in Israel, with 49 airlines operating out of it and offering nonstop flights to 48 cities. It is also referred to as Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Intl Airport, Ben Gurion, or Ben Gurion Intl.
There are no direct flights to Jerusalem, but there are approximately 1,055 direct flights to Tel Aviv each week. London, Athens, and Rome are popular departure points for those heading to Jerusalem. The average flight time from Istanbul to Jerusalem is 2 hours and 5 minutes, from Dubai it is around 3 hours and 47 minutes, and from Rome, it is 3 hours and 22 minutes.
Several airlines fly to Tel Aviv, the most common ones being EL AL, United Airlines, and Delta. EL AL offers direct flights from New York to Tel Aviv, with prices for this route starting at $475 return. The most popular connection to Tel Aviv is from Los Angeles, with round-trip deals starting at $684.
In the past, Jerusalem International Airport (also known as Atarot) was the airport in Jerusalem. It was opened in 1925 and was the first airport in the British Mandate for Palestine. It was closed to civilian air traffic in 2000 due to security issues during the Second Intifada. There have been proposals to reopen the airport as a joint venture between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, but it is currently used by the Israel Defense Forces.
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Security and passenger experience
Jerusalem International Airport (IATA: JRS, ICAO: LLJR, OJJR) was a regional airport in Jerusalem. It was the first airport in the British Mandate for Palestine when it opened in 1925. However, it was closed to civilian air traffic in October 2000 due to security issues during the Second Intifada.
Today, the closest airport to Jerusalem is Ben Gurion International Airport, which is located about 45 kilometres (28 miles) northwest of the city. It is the busiest airport in Israel and one of the busiest in the Middle East, having handled 21.1 million passengers in 2023. The airport serves as a hub for several airlines, including El Al, Israir, Arkia, and Sundor, and is managed by the Israel Airports Authority.
Security procedures at Ben Gurion Airport are known to be stringent, with a strong focus on behaviour detection. All passengers are interviewed before being allowed to check in, and those travelling to Israel may be questioned by passport control depending on their country of origin or previous travel history. Passengers who have recently visited Arab countries may be subject to further questioning.
The security questioning at Ben Gurion Airport has received mixed reviews from passengers. Some have expressed concerns about the invasiveness and effectiveness of the questioning, claiming that it feels like an interrogation of their personal lives. Others have noted that the line of questioning can seem irrelevant and cause confusion. However, supporters of the security measures argue that they are necessary to ensure the safety of all passengers and that similar behaviour detection techniques are used in other airports worldwide.
In addition to security measures, Ben Gurion Airport also offers a range of facilities to enhance the passenger experience. The airport has a VIP wing for private jet passengers and has plans for further expansion in this area. The departure hall is designed with a vacation theme, while the arrivals hall has an urban theme. The airport is also easily accessible by rail, with a journey time of about 25 minutes from Jerusalem's Yitzhak Navon station.
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Transport options from the airport to Jerusalem
Ben Gurion Airport is the key airport in Israel, located about 52 kilometres from Jerusalem. There are several transport options for getting from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem, each with its own advantages and considerations in terms of cost, travel time, and convenience.
The train is the fastest public transport option, taking around 30 minutes to travel from the airport to Jerusalem. However, it's important to note that trains do not operate on Shabbat (from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening) or on Jewish holidays. As of April 2025, the train is also the cheapest option during its operating hours, with a ticket price of 19 ILS.
Another option is to take a taxi or a sherut (a shared taxi or minibus service). Taxis and private transfers can be more expensive, but they offer door-to-door service and are ideal if you have a lot of luggage. They also operate 24/7, making them a good choice if you're arriving during Shabbat or holidays when trains and buses are not running. The journey by taxi or private transfer takes about 45-60 minutes, depending on traffic and your final destination in Jerusalem.
You can also take a shuttle bus from the airport to Jerusalem. The shuttle (#485) operates 24 hours a day, 6 days a week (not on Shabbat) and departs hourly from Jerusalem's Central Bus Station. The journey time is approximately 1 hour. At the airport, you can also find shuttles to Tel Aviv that run every hour, at the top of the hour.
Additionally, you can consider renting a car and driving to Jerusalem. Israel has easy-to-navigate highways and road networks, making it convenient to travel by car. Highway 1 will take you directly from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no airport in Jerusalem. However, there are a few airports near Jerusalem that you can consider.
Ben Gurion International Airport, also known as Tel Aviv Airport, is the closest airport to Jerusalem. It is around 35 minutes from Jerusalem.
You can get a taxi or a shared taxi called "monit sherut" to Jerusalem from outside the airport.
Haifa Airport and Uvda Airport are also options to reach Jerusalem by air. However, Haifa Airport is used mostly for flights to and from Tel Aviv and Eilat, and Uvda Airport is around a five-hour bus ride from Jerusalem.
Jerusalem International Airport was a regional airport in Jerusalem. It was opened in 1925 and was the first airport in the British Mandate for Palestine. It was occupied by Jordan after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and was later annexed by Israel after the Six-Day War in 1967. The airport was closed to civilian traffic in 2000 due to security issues during the Second Intifada.
