Ben Gurion Airport Faces Parking Shortages as Passenger Numbers Surge

Last week, Ben Gurion Airport experienced a record day with approximately 101,000 passengers passing through, leading to the closure of short-term parking lots near Terminal 3 due to full capacity. This has become a frequent occurrence amid rising passenger volumes. The short-term lots fill up not only because of limited spaces but also due to drivers preferring these closer, covered lots over cheaper long-term parking, despite the price difference. The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) struggles to enforce rules against parking in short-term lots for over 24 hours, which is prohibited but not legally penalized, resulting in drivers paying only the daily parking fee of up to 135 shekels during peak times.

When short-term lots close, drivers are redirected to long-term or waiting lots, requiring them to use internal shuttle services even for brief stops. This adds inconvenience for drivers and increases pressure on shuttle operations and airport traffic, which is already heavy. The long-term parking fee is 50 shekels per day with no reduced rate for short stays, further contributing to congestion. Additionally, flight delays average about an hour, with long waits for check-in, baggage drop, security, and baggage claim, compounding passenger and traffic challenges.

Ben Gurion has around 20,000 parking spaces, with only about 2,000 designated for short-term parking near Terminal 3. A new waiting service near Terminal 3 allows free parking for up to one hour to encourage quick passenger drop-offs and pickups. However, most drivers prefer to park and accompany passengers inside the terminal, leading to low utilization of this service, which was only 30% full during the recent peak weekend. Drivers parking in the waiting lot can only access Terminal 1 without a shuttle.

The IAA urges the public to use the waiting lot service to reduce congestion and costs. Short-term parking costs 0.5 shekels per minute with the first 15 minutes free, and daily maximums of 135 shekels during peak periods and 100 shekels otherwise. Long-term parking costs 50 shekels per day in covered areas and 90 shekels in uncovered areas, with additional hourly fees. The waiting lot charges 30 shekels for the first hour beyond the free period and 0.5 shekels per additional minute.

Currently, the IAA has issued a tender to manage and operate the existing parking facilities at Ben Gurion, aiming to improve efficiency rather than build new lots. Given the growing passenger numbers and the airport’s status as Israel’s sole international airport for the foreseeable future, the IAA is considering new solutions to accommodate the increasing vehicle traffic. The authority recommends using the waiting lot for passenger pickups and notes plans to announce tenders for new parking facilities soon.