Ben Airport Passenger Traffic Recovers to Pre-War Levels
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
Israeli carriers, particularly El Al, have increased their market share significantly, benefiting from reduced foreign airline operations. However, incoming tourism has not recovered at the same pace, with daily tourist arrivals in September 2026 at 4,300, down from 9,700 in September 2023, indicating that air connectivity alone is not enough for stable tourism growth.
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- El Al's market share rose to 30.1% in Sept 2026, up from 21.1% in Sept 2023.
- Foreign airlines operating in Israel dropped from 77 in summer 2023 to 55 in Sept 2026.
- Incoming tourist numbers in Sept 2026 were 4,300 daily, far below 9,700 in Sept 2023.
- Reduced competition from foreign airlines has led to higher ticket prices and fewer options.
In September 2026, an average of 76,000 passengers passed through the airport daily, nearly matching the 77,000 daily average in September 2023. This recovery follows a steep decline in October 2023, when the daily average plummeted to approximately 38,000, and further to about 13,000 in November 2023. By March 2026, the daily average had risen to 7,000, and by April, it reached 16,000, with continued increases in subsequent months.
The data also highlights a strengthening of the Israeli airline El Al. Its market share in international passenger traffic at TLV increased from 21.1% in September 2023 to 30.1% in September 2026. The combined number of international passengers flown by El Al, Israir, and Arkia grew by approximately 74% between September 2023 and September 2026. This growth is attributed to fleet expansion, increased use of leased aircraft from foreign companies, and aviation agreements allowing operational flexibility and ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) leases.
This development is supported by the Civil Aviation Authority's liberalization process initiated in 2006 and aviation agreements with the European Union signed in 2013, which expanded airlines' operational options. However, the increase in Israeli carriers' activity is largely due to the reduced operations of foreign airlines during periods of security risk. As foreign companies have been slower to resume flights on certain routes, Israeli airlines have consolidated their control over these lines.
This shift has consumer and economic implications. With a reduced overall supply of flights and one Israeli company increasing its market share, competition for ticket prices and destination variety has diminished, leading to price increases. The number of foreign airlines operating in Israel dropped sharply after the war began; while 77 foreign airlines operated at TLV in the summer of 2023, only seven remained in December 2023. By September 2026, 55 foreign airlines were operating, up from 45 the previous year, though not all have resumed their full route networks or pre-war operational scope.
Incoming tourism also remains affected. The daily average of arriving tourists in September 2026 was about 4,300, compared to approximately 9,700 in September 2023. This gap indicates that passenger traffic recovery does not equate to tourism recovery, and restoring air connectivity alone is insufficient for the sector's stable growth.
