Israel Warns Travelers of Unlicensed Valet Parking Scams at Ben Gurion Airport

The Israel Airports Authority has issued a warning to travelers using Ben Gurion Airport regarding unlicensed private companies offering valet parking services. These firms, which promise to park vehicles at or near the airport terminals, operate without authorization and are not affiliated with the Airports Authority. Passengers who have used these private services have reported damage to their vehicles, traffic fines, and difficulties contacting the companies after entrusting them with their cars. The Authority stated that representatives of these private companies become unreachable after providing their service.

Travelers are advised to use public transportation or park their vehicles in the official parking lots managed by the Israel Airports Authority. This warning comes amid plans by the Airports Authority to significantly expand Terminal 3 at Ben Gurion Airport, aiming to increase its capacity to 40 million passengers annually due to rising travel volume.

In separate aviation news, an El Al Boeing 777 flight aborted its landing at Ben Gurion Airport after deviating from its intended path during descent. The aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 600 feet (180 meters) before the crew initiated a go-around. Flight tracking data indicated the plane veered about 1.85 kilometers off course while approaching the airport.