Ben Gurion Airport Parking Reopens After Holiday Rush Congestion

Israel's Airports Authority announced on Monday, September 28, that parking facilities at Ben Gurion Airport have reopened for passengers and those picking them up. The previous day, September 27, due to peak loads, Israelis were strongly advised against driving to the airport. The Authority clarified that while parking is available, the number of spots fluctuates, and securing a space is not guaranteed.

The congestion occurred during the height of the autumn holidays, a period when Ben Gurion expects to handle over 1.1 million passengers. From September 22, after Yom Kippur, through October 4, the airport anticipates serving approximately 1.13 million travelers. During Sukkot, daily passenger numbers are projected to exceed 90,000. On Thursday, September 24, around 105,000 passengers passed through, with 614 flights serviced. Another 100,000 passengers are expected on Thursday, October 1.

Popular holiday destinations for Israelis include Greece, Cyprus, Italy, the UAE, the US, Germany, Georgia, and France. The Airports Authority stated that further announcements will be made if parking congestion recurs. They apologized for the inconvenience and asked for passenger understanding.

Separately, the Airports Authority recently updated passenger service fees for Ben Gurion Airport effective 2027. The fee at Terminal 3 will increase from $33.87 to $37.68, and at Terminal 1 from $15.61 to $17.36, an approximate 11.2% rise in dollar terms. Airlines pay this fee per departing passenger, and some of this cost may be passed on to ticket prices. The Authority explained that fees are set in shekels and adjusted annually for inflation and currency exchange rates. The 2027 update accounts for only a 1.54% shekel increase, with the dollar amount higher due to a weaker dollar. This fee increase, while modest in shekels, could amount to millions of dollars for airlines handling hundreds of thousands of passengers annually.