Approval Granted for New Hotel Planned at Ben Gurion Airport

The National Licensing Authority in the Planning Administration has approved the issuance of a building permit for a hotel at Ben Gurion Airport, as part of a project being advanced by the Israel Airports Authority. The hotel will be built adjacent to Terminal 3, above the planned HBS baggage screening system on the eastern side of the terminal. It will be eight stories high and is expected to be built toward the end of this decade.

The planning basis for the hotel already existed in the national master plan for Ben Gurion Airport (TAMA 2/4/A) and in the approved development plan (TB/40102), which was approved at the end of 2024. The Planning Administration said the project design allows efficient use of land while integrating optimally into the existing environment. This is because the HBS building was planned mostly underground, with only one floor above ground, and above it the eight-story hotel, covering about 32,000 square meters, will be built, in line with the approved relaxation. According to the plan, the new construction will blend into its surroundings without significant visual impact on the airport’s air and ground space.

Despite the permit approval, construction will not begin soon. According to the Planning Administration, work is expected to start during 2028, after the structure is built. The approval is subject to compliance with oversight conditions, including fire safety approvals, Home Front Command protection requirements, compliance with green building standards, approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Defense, as well as additional conditions relating to infrastructure and environmental protection.

Deputy Chair of the National Planning Headquarters Shira Brand said, "The construction of the new hotel is part of a broad planning concept for developing advanced aviation infrastructure, combining operational needs, quality service for passengers and optimal use of land."

Ron Rakach, head of the National Licensing Authority, said, "Approval of the building permit for the hotel is an important step in improving the passenger experience at Ben Gurion Airport. The hotel’s construction will stand alongside airports around the world, while maintaining principles of planning efficiency and aviation safety."