Israel Airport Authority Data Shows Significant Passenger Increase Before Elections
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Approximately 452,000 passengers are expected to arrive in Israel in the two weeks leading up to the elections, a notable increase compared to the previous year. While social media suggests a surge of Israelis returning to vote, airport data indicates the numbers, though higher, may not solely be driven by election participation. The increase is particularly evident when compared to the same period last year, though daily averages during recent holiday months were higher. Airlines like Bluebird and Etihad experienced significant delays, while Swiss and Delta were among the most punctual.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Around 452,000 passengers are expected to land in Israel in the two weeks before the elections.
- This figure represents a significant increase compared to the same period last year.
- A survey suggested about 67,000 Israelis worldwide might return to vote.
- Daily arrival averages during recent holiday months were higher than the current pre-election period.
- Bluebird and Etihad airlines reported the longest average landing delays.
- Swiss International Air Lines was the most punctual airline for arrivals.
Social media posts have suggested a surge of Israelis returning from abroad to vote in upcoming elections. A survey by the Fly&Vote initiative indicated approximately 67,000 Israelis worldwide might travel to vote.
Between October 13-19, around 238,000 passengers landed in Israel, with an additional 214,000 expected between October 20-26. This brings the total expected arrivals in the two weeks before the election to approximately 452,000, averaging 32,200 passengers daily. This figure is higher than the daily average of 31,500 arrivals in October of the previous year, even though last year's October included holidays. In contrast, November of the previous year saw a significantly lower average of 23,100 daily arrivals.
While the number of arrivals shows an increase compared to the previous year, it does not necessarily indicate a mass return solely for voting. Some arrivals may be individuals who stayed after the recent holidays, or others might use land crossings. The number of departures during this period was 375,000, averaging 26,700 daily, which is typically more balanced with arrivals, suggesting a surplus of incoming passengers.
The IAA reported an average delay of 20 minutes for landings in the past week, with 70% of flights arriving on time. Bluebird Airlines had the longest average delay at 38 minutes, followed by Etihad at 32 minutes. Swiss International Air Lines was the most punctual, with an average delay of just one minute, followed by Delta and Ethiopian Airlines.
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