According to Sunday's notice, the situation resulted from the increase in passenger volume during the Tishrei holidays. "Following the increase in passenger volume during the Tishrei holidays, Ben Gurion car parks are currently at full capacity with no available parking spaces until further notice," the Authority's statement read. "We ask passengers and those accompanying them to avoid arriving at Ben Gurion by private vehicle and to reach the airport using public transport."
The Tishrei holiday period is characterised each year by a significant rise in passenger traffic at Ben Gurion, both among passengers departing abroad and among those accompanying them to the airport. The overflow in the car parks adds to the general congestion in the terminals and airport facilities during this period.
According to Israel Airports Authority data published at the end of August, approximately 2.5 million passengers were expected to pass through Ben Gurion Airport during September and the Tishrei holidays. At the land border crossings to Sinai and Jordan, an additional 500,000 passengers were expected. Peak days during the Tishrei holidays were expected on 10 September, 17 September, 22 September and 25 September, with around 100,000 passengers per day passing through Ben Gurion on approximately 600 daily flights.
