Ben Gurion’s Terminal 1 to Reopen in Stages, Easing Summer Passenger Pressure

Israel Airports Authority says Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion Airport will reopen after a long period of limited operations following Operation Rising Lion. The move comes as foreign airlines return to Israel and passenger volumes are expected to rise sharply during the summer travel peak.

According to the official schedule, domestic flights will resume from Terminal 1 on June 28, 2026, and international flights will follow on July 1, 2026. The authority said the reopening will help meet high seasonal demand and improve the passenger experience at the airport.

In recent months, part of the traffic had been shifted to Terminal 3 while Terminal 1 operated in a reduced format. During the operation, only Israeli carriers, El Al, Israir, Arkia and Air Haifa, were operating outbound flights from Israel. Activity has since increased, including the return of Delta Air Lines and Air Baltic.

The Airports Authority urged passengers to check in advance which terminal their flight departs from and to verify information with their airline and official airport channels. It noted that flight locations have changed repeatedly in recent months, including a temporary transfer of domestic flights to Eilat from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 last October because of upgrade work. The reopening is taking place alongside broader expansion projects at Ben Gurion, where hundreds of millions of shekels are being invested in Terminal 3, adding about 7,000 square meters, upgrading border control and security screening areas, and expanding the duty-free complex.