Israel's Ben Gurion Airport Braces for Record Passenger Traffic Amidst Security Concerns

Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) is anticipating its busiest period since the start of the war, with approximately 2.5 million passengers expected to travel during the upcoming High Holidays. This surge in traffic, driven by the return of numerous foreign airlines and a return to full aviation activity, highlights a significant rebound in air travel.

Thursday, the day before Rosh Hashanah, marked the season's busiest day, with over 100,000 passengers and around 570 international flights. High passenger volumes are projected to continue throughout the holiday period, with an estimated 88,000 passengers on September 21st and approximately 92,000 daily on September 25th and 29th.

Despite the celebratory atmosphere, the Israel Airports Authority is preparing for potential disruptions. They are reinforcing staff to prevent a repeat of the severe delays caused by a surprise strike about a month ago. A primary concern is a reported severe shortage of ground handling and baggage personnel, which has already led to flight delays as temporary staffing measures have ended.

Adding to the operational challenges, law enforcement has initiated a significant enforcement operation at TLV targeting army deserters attempting to travel to Ukraine via European countries. In a notable incident on Wednesday, two deserters were apprehended just before boarding a Wizz Air flight to Poland, being removed from the plane by police.