Ben-Gurion Airport: No Plans for Back to Normal
According to a report published Monday night, the ministry last week canceled significant planned easing measures for outbound flights, following a reassessment tied to ongoing missile launches from Iran. “Full-scale operations will resume only when we reach an average of one or two launches per week from Iran toward central Israel."
Israel’s Transportation Ministry is warning that a full return to normal flight operations at Ben Gurion Airport may be far off, raising concerns that even summer travel plans could be affected.
According to a report published Monday night, the ministry last week canceled significant planned easing measures for outbound flights, following a reassessment tied to ongoing missile launches from Iran.
A senior Transportation Ministry official told Channel 12 News that Ben Gurion Airport will only return to broad, near-normal activity once missile fire drops dramatically.
“Full-scale operations will resume only when we reach an average of one or two launches per week from Iran toward central Israel,” the official said.
The statement has raised questions, given that in the past, the airport continued operating even during periods of rocket fire from Yemen.
If the current assessment holds, many Israelis could face continued flight cancellations and disruptions in the coming months, including during the peak summer travel season.
The ministry’s decision to roll back previously planned flight easings reflects ongoing security concerns, particularly after recent missile launches and interceptions near central Israel.
Ben Gurion Airport has been operating under tight restrictions since the start of the war, with limits on passenger numbers and flight frequency due to safety considerations.
Officials have not provided a timeline for when conditions might improve, reinforcing a growing sense that disruptions to air travel could persist well into the foreseeable future.