Ben Gurion Begins Clearing Fuel Tankers as Summer Travel Surge Builds

After about four months in which dozens of American tanker aircraft were parked at Ben Gurion Airport, the planes have begun being moved in recent days to other airfields in the region, including Qatar and other Gulf states. The step comes amid concern that the summer travel peak could disrupt normal aviation operations. According to reports, about 74 tanker aircraft had been stationed at Ben Gurion in recent months, alongside about 20 more at Ramon Airport. Their presence took up large parking areas intended for passenger jets and raised fears among aviation officials about a shortage of stands during the busiest season of the year.

Industry sources warned that the situation could have hurt day-to-day flight operations and even led to cancellations. Israel is now working with American counterparts to reduce the number of aircraft still parked at Ben Gurion and ease congestion on the aprons, so the airport can be better prepared for summer traffic and maintain regular service as Israel's main air gateway.

At the same time, the Israel Airports Authority said Thursday morning that Ben Gurion is expected to see its highest passenger traffic since the start of the war. More than 75,000 passengers are due to pass through on international arrivals and departures today. In July, more than 2 million passengers are expected at Ben Gurion, a rise of about 25% in international traffic compared with the same period last year.

To handle the increase, Terminal 1 will return to service. Domestic flights from Terminal 1 will resume on Sunday, and international flights from the terminal will resume on Wednesday. The reopening is meant to expand operational capacity, meet summer demand and improve the passenger experience. The Airports Authority also urged travelers to check in in advance, verify which terminal their flight uses, arrive about three hours before departure and monitor possible changes with their airline.