Ben Gurion Airport Parking Lots Reopen After Overnight Capacity Issues

Ben Gurion Airport's public parking facilities have reopened after being declared at full capacity for nearly 24 hours, the Israel Airports Authority announced Sunday morning. The authority stated that parking spaces became available overnight and this morning, allowing travelers to once again arrive at the airport by private vehicle and park. However, the authority cautioned that parking is subject to availability and reopening does not guarantee a spot for everyone.

The reopening comes less than a day after the authority issued an unusual request for the public to alter their travel plans to the airport. On Saturday, the authority announced that due to the high volume of travelers during the Sukkot holiday period, all parking lots at the airport were full. Passengers and those accompanying them were advised to avoid arriving by private car and instead use trains, buses, or taxis.

The parking crunch highlighted the disparity between the large number of holiday travelers and the airport's parking capacity. Terminal 3 has fewer than 20,000 long-term parking spaces, spread across several lots. Terminal 1 has a parking lot for short and long-term stays, with an additional lot opening as needed. During the holiday period, approximately 2.5 million passengers are expected to pass through the airport, with peak days seeing around 100,000 passengers and 600 flights daily.

While private vehicles are now a viable option again, travelers planning to leave their cars at the airport for extended periods should be aware that availability can change rapidly. The authority's announcement does not reserve spots but allows parking based on real-time availability.