First of Its Kind: A Large Hotel Will Be Built at Ben Gurion Airport

A large hotel will be built at Ben Gurion Airport, in what officials described as an important step in upgrading the passenger experience. The project will cover more than 31,000 square meters, include eight floors and be built next to Terminal 3.

The National Licensing Authority in the Planning Administration approved today, Thursday, the application for a building permit to establish a new hotel at Ben Gurion Airport. The project, being advanced by the Israel Airports Authority, is intended to provide an advanced solution for passengers and flight crews arriving at the airport. The hotel will be built in a strategic location adjacent to Terminal 3 and is expected to improve the hospitality experience at Ben Gurion Airport.

The project will include eight floors above ground level and span a total area of about 31,532 square meters. Construction is expected to begin in 2028, after completion of the HBS structure, the baggage screening system, which is mostly underground. The hotel will be built above the baggage screening system on the eastern side of Terminal 3. The unique design allows efficient use of land and integration into the existing airport space. The building was planned so that it would not have a significant visual impact on the airport’s air and ground space. The structure will rise only one floor above ground level, with the hotel floors built above it.

The approval is subject to design control conditions, including fire safety and protection approvals from Home Front Command. The developers are required to meet green building standards and obtain approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Defense. The start of work is contingent on coordination with all infrastructure authorities and the submission of agreements for handling waste and excess soil.

"Ben Gurion Airport is the main gateway to the State of Israel," said Shira Brand, deputy chair of the National Planning Headquarters. "The establishment of the new hotel is part of a broader planning concept for the development of advanced aviation infrastructure. This is an important project that will strengthen Ben Gurion Airport’s position as a leading international airport and contribute to Israel’s economic and tourism development."

Ron Rakakh, director of the National Licensing Authority, said approval of the building permit is a significant step in improving the passenger experience. "The hotel will stand alongside airports around the world," Rakakh said. "All this while maintaining principles of planning efficiency and aviation safety."

The hotel will be built in accordance with the national master plan for the airport and the construction plan approved at the end of 2024.