Israel Closes Airports and Borders for Yom Kippur Holiday

Israel is set to suspend air travel and close its border crossings in observance of the Yom Kippur holiday. Starting Sunday, September 20, airports will gradually cease passenger services, and land border crossings will shut down until the holiday concludes. The resumption of operations will be staggered, beginning Monday evening, September 21, with some facilities not returning to normal until Tuesday. Passengers are advised to verify schedules and account for potential disruptions.

Ben Gurion International Airport will see its last departures and arrivals on Sunday afternoon. Terminal 1's final domestic flight departs at 13:00, with the last domestic landing at 13:10. Terminal 3's last international departure and arrival are scheduled for 13:55. International flights will resume at Terminal 3 on Monday evening, with the first arrival at 22:30 and the first departure at 23:30. Terminal 1 will restart international and domestic services on Tuesday, September 22, at 02:00.

Other airports will also experience closures. Ramon Airport near Eilat will stop services at 11:30 on Sunday and reopen at 06:00 on Tuesday, September 22. Haifa Airport will have its last landing at 14:00 on Sunday and resume flights at 06:00 on Tuesday.

Land border crossings will also be affected. The Allenby crossing to Jordan will close Sunday at 11:00 and reopen Tuesday. The Rabin crossing between Eilat and Aqaba will close Sunday at 12:00 and also reopen Tuesday. The Begin crossing to Egypt will close Sunday at 13:00 but will reopen Monday at 22:00. The Jordan River crossing (Sheikh Hussein) will close Sunday at 12:00, with the last passenger processed by 10:30, and normal operations resuming Tuesday.

Authorities emphasize that the reopening of airports and crossings does not mean an immediate return to full service. Transportation networks will gradually resume normal schedules after Yom Kippur, and travelers should confirm details with their carriers.