Ben Gurion Airport Braces for Sukkot Travel Surge Amid Ongoing Delays

Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) anticipates a significant surge in passenger traffic during the Sukkot holiday period, with approximately 1.13 million travelers expected between September 22 and October 4. This translates to over half a million Israelis flying abroad, with popular destinations including Greece, Cyprus, Italy, the UAE, the United States, Germany, Georgia, and France. Ramon Airport will handle around 35,000 passengers, Haifa Airport approximately 22,000, and land border crossings are projected to see 157,000 travelers.

Daily passenger numbers at TLV are expected to exceed 90,000 during Sukkot, with peaks of 105,000 on September 24 and 100,000 on October 1. These high volumes echo those seen last month, which led to significant disruptions and flight delays. Currently, the airport's congestion monitor indicates an average departure delay of 52 minutes over the past week, with only 16% of flights leaving on time. Arrival delays average 38 minutes, with 55% of flights landing punctually.

Tos Airways, Bluebird, and Arkia have experienced the most frequent delays, averaging 103, 90, and 53 minutes respectively. Flights to Corfu, Barcelona, and Heraklion have also faced considerable delays. Despite security concerns preventing Israeli airlines from flying to the UAE until late October, Dubai remains a popular destination, with travelers utilizing foreign carriers like Flydubai and Etihad, which have reported minimal delays.

To mitigate congestion, the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) advises passengers to check in online, print baggage tags at self-service kiosks, use the express lane for carry-on baggage only, and stay updated with their airlines. The IAA has also made an unusual request to the Air Force and Deputy Chief of Staff regarding the holiday travel period.