Air and transportation officials are seeking to expand flights at Ben-Gurion International Airport, the Israel Airports Authority said on Wednesday.
The authority said it is “conducting ongoing situational assessments with all partners and is examining the expansion of operations at its facilities, in accordance with the directives of security officials and the Transportation and Road Safety Ministry.”
The intention is to increase the passenger quota to 150 passengers per flight on wide-body aircraft and 120 passengers on narrow-body aircraft. The frequency of flights is also expected to increase. Current restrictions stipulate that each departing flight can carry up to 100 passengers, and flights are limited to one takeoff and one landing per hour.
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The main obstacle in expanding the number of flights stems from the U.S. military’s presence at Ben-Gurion Airport during the war. The airport serves as a make-do joint U.S.-Israeli military airfield, hosting mainly U.S. refueling planes. The expansion of operations at the airport is contingent on the evacuation of these military aircraft, as they are parked in spaces that would otherwise be occupied by civilian planes.
The authorities are also examining the option of Ramon Airport, near Eilat, as an alternative for Israelis wishing to fly abroad. At this stage, nearly all flights are expected to be operated by Israeli carriers, as few foreign airlines are operating routes in Israel.
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An Arkia aircraft at Ben-Gurion Airport. Credit: Arkia
An Arkia aircraft at Ben-Gurion Airport. Credit: Arkia
Israeli airline Arkia said it expects a rise in the number of departing passengers and is preparing to expand its flight schedule following the anticipated easing of restrictions by May 2.
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Throughout April, Arkia plans to operate flights to Athens, Larnaca, Rome, Vienna, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Bangkok, New York, and Budapest. The carrier is preparing to operate a full flight schedule starting May 3, and said that tickets will be available to purchase in the coming hours.
Israir is also preparing to expand the number of flights and increase passenger capacity, following a decision by the Ministry of Transport. According to Israir, “In the coming weeks, the company is expected to operate flights to a range of major destinations, including Athens, Larnaca, Budapest, Tbilisi, Batumi, Rome, Berlin, and Rhodes.”