Ben Gurion Airport Reopens Terminal 1 for International Flights as Foreign Airlines Resume Service

Ben Gurion Airport officially reopens Terminal 1 for international flights starting July 1, marking a significant shift as the summer travel season begins. Over two million Israeli travelers are expected to pass through the airport in the coming month, prompting the Israel Airports Authority to prepare for increased passenger traffic. Terminal 1 will serve flights to destinations including Salzburg, Tirana, Baku, Batumi, Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Tbilisi, and Larnaca.

Several major foreign airlines are resuming operations at Ben Gurion after a hiatus due to recent tensions with Iran. Lufthansa has restarted flights to Frankfurt, ITA Airways to Rome, and Air Baltic to Riga. Additional carriers such as Air France, Swiss, Air Seychelles, Brussels Airlines, Fly One, and Eurowings are expected to return later this summer. Airlines like Austrian Airlines and Wizz Air plan to expand their summer schedules, contingent on stable security conditions.

However, some prominent international airlines remain cautious and have yet to resume flights to Israel. These include American carriers, Air Canada, Iberia, British Airways, SAS, KLM, Air India, EasyJet, Ryanair, Emirates, and Cathay Pacific. Passengers are advised to check their flight terminals in advance, complete online check-in when possible, and arrive three hours before departure to accommodate increased airport activity.