Ben Gurion Airport Sees Surge to 2.3 Million Passengers in July Amid Airline Returns
After two and a half years of partial operations and security threats, Ben Gurion Airport is experiencing a significant increase in activity this July. The Israel Airports Authority forecasts about 2.3 million passengers (arrivals and departures) this month, up from 1.67 million in July 2025. Aircraft movements are expected to reach 14,500, compared to 12,100 the previous year. This surge is attributed to the return of foreign airlines, a weaker dollar against the shekel, and Israelis’ desire to travel after nearly three years of conflict. However, the recovery remains incomplete compared to pre-war levels, with 2.6 million passengers and 77 foreign airlines operating in July 2023. The outbreak of the "Iron Swords" conflict on October 7, 2023, caused a 40.5% drop in flights and a 44% decline in passenger traffic.
Ben Gurion Airport has faced ongoing security challenges including missile threats, Iranian hostility, and intermittent airspace closures. The presence of U.S. military refueling aircraft had limited parking and takeoff slots for commercial flights, raising fears of mass flight cancellations. Recently, dozens of U.S. refuelers were removed, allowing foreign airlines to expand their schedules. Several carriers have resumed or increased flights: Lufthansa restored 14 weekly flights to Frankfurt and plans 29 weekly flights in July; Austrian Airlines will operate 11 weekly flights to Vienna; Eurowings returns with flights to Hamburg and Düsseldorf; ITA resumed daily flights to Rome; Air Baltic and Georgian low-cost OneClick Airways restarted routes; Air France plans daily Paris flights; and FlyOne will resume flights to Romania in mid-July. Seychelles Airlines will also restart weekly flights in August.
Despite these returns, the number of foreign airlines operating remains below pre-war levels, with 44 expected in July 2026 versus 77 in July 2023. Major U.S. carriers Delta and American Airlines plan to return only in September and October 2026, respectively. European low-cost giants EasyJet and Ryanair have postponed their Israeli operations indefinitely, citing security concerns and disputes over terminal usage and fees. Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary expressed skepticism about returning, citing ongoing violence and frustrations with the Israel Airports Authority.
In response to increased traffic, Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion reopened for international flights this week after multiple delays due to security and traffic drops. This reopening aims to ease congestion at Terminal 3 and reduce airport fees for airlines. The airport authority has prepared logistics including duty-free shops and shuttle services between terminals.
On the pricing front, while global flight prices have surged over 11%, Israeli ticket prices have decreased compared to recent years, though still higher than pre-war levels. For July 2026, tickets to Budapest, Batumi, and Athens dropped by 36-47%, but destinations like Amsterdam, Bangkok, Tbilisi, and Berlin remain significantly more expensive than before the conflict. Travel search trends show reduced interest in hot European cities and increased demand for beach and cooler climate destinations. Family bookings now constitute 42% of reservations, up from 38%, while solo travelers dropped from 31.5% to 25%. Over 88% of Israeli bookings are still with Israeli airlines, reflecting travelers’ preference for security and reliability amid ongoing regional tensions.
