Ben Gurion Airport Set for Record Passenger Day as Summer Traffic Surges

Ben Gurion Airport is expected to set a new passenger record today, Thursday, with more than 75,000 passengers passing through on incoming and outgoing international flights, according to the Israel Airports Authority. The authority said this would be the highest daily figure since the launch of Operation "Raising Lion."

Officials also expect a very busy summer. More than 2 million passengers are projected to pass through Ben Gurion in July alone, about 25% more than in the same month last year. Transportation Minister Miri Regev said efforts are under way to keep the skies open and increase the supply of flights for the summer travel season.

Regev said preparations at the airport included removing some American aircraft from the area in order to expand air traffic activity and meet growing demand. As part of the summer readiness plan, Terminal 1 is also returning to service in the coming days.

The Airports Authority said domestic flights from Terminal 1 will resume on June 28, and international flights will restart from there on July 1. It said reopening the terminal is meant to increase operational capacity, reduce congestion, and improve the passenger experience. The authority advised travelers to check in in advance, verify which terminal their flight uses, arrive about three hours before departure, and confirm flight times with their airline.