Terminal 1 closes as low-cost airlines stay away

The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) announced that Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion Airport will be closed on Friday until the end of March 2025. All international flights will use Terminal 3 throughout the winter, although domestic flights to Eilat will continue to use Terminal 1.

The closure comes after the three major foreign low-cost airlines flying to Israel announced the cancellation of their flights to Israel for long periods. Wizz Air has canceled all flights to Israel until January 2025, and both Ryanair and easyJet until March 2025.

According to the International Airports Authority, the number of passengers passing through Terminal 1 has fallen to a low of 20,000 per day, and this number does not justify keeping the terminal open for international flights.

Following the outbreak of war in October 2023, Terminal 1 was closed to international and domestic flights due to a sharp decline in the number of passengers using it and the need to enhance security measures, with all flights being diverted to Terminal 3.

Low-cost foreign airlines have gradually resumed flights, with Ryanair making headlines by renewing flights in February and then grounding them again in March, in protest against the much higher airport tax at Terminal 3, as Terminal 1 remains closed.

The difference in taxes paid in Terminals 1 and 3 stems from the services provided by Airports International. Duty free shops in Terminal 1 are very limited and the passenger hall is much smaller resulting in lower operating costs.

After reopening Terminal 1 in June, Ryanair resumed flights to Israel. With Terminal 1 closed again, low-cost airlines will be prevented from returning to Israel if the security situation becomes more stable.

Published by Globes, Israel Business News – en.globes.co.il – on October 28, 2024.

© Copyright Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2024.