Israel Braces for Record Holiday Travel Surge at Ben Gurion Airport

Israel's Airports Authority is preparing for an unprecedented surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming High Holidays, with over 3 million travelers expected to pass through its facilities. Ben Gurion Airport alone anticipates approximately 2.5 million passengers, while tens of thousands more will depart from Ramon and Haifa airports. An additional half a million people are projected to use land border crossings to Jordan and Sinai.

Peak travel days at Ben Gurion Airport are scheduled for September 10, 17, 22, and 25, with an estimated 100,000 passengers and around 600 daily flights expected on these dates. This follows a busy August, which saw 2.65 million passengers at Ben Gurion. The most popular destinations for Israelis during the holidays include Greece, Cyprus, the United States, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates.

Land border crossings will also experience significant activity. The Rabin (Arava) crossing to Jordan is expected to handle about 190,000 travelers, followed by the Allenby crossing with 153,000, the Begin (Taba) crossing to Egypt with 100,000, and the Jordan River crossing with 55,000.

Special flights to Uman, Ukraine, a significant pilgrimage site for many Israelis, will operate from September 6 to September 17. To manage the expected crowds, the Airports Authority has increased its staffing and advised travelers to check their terminal in advance, complete online check-in, print baggage tags at self-service stations, and utilize fast lanes for those with only carry-on luggage. Security personnel and reservists are also reminded to thoroughly check their bags for any ammunition or related items.