Ben Gurion Airport approaching its limit: "In less than a decade we will reach peak capacity — the hourglass is running out"

The Israel Airports Authority forecasts that in September 2026, approximately 2.5 million passengers will pass through Ben Gurion Airport, a figure approaching maximum capacity. The Treasury predicts that by 2035, annual passenger traffic will reach 40 million, the peak capacity. Despite government decisions since the 1970s, a supplementary airport has not yet been built, and these delays have already increased flight prices by tens of percent.

Ben Gurion Airport is approaching its capacity limit. The Israel Airports Authority forecasts that in September 2026 alone, about 2.5 million passengers will pass through Ben Gurion Airport, a figure indicating unprecedented congestion that has become routine. An updated Treasury forecast predicts that by 2035, annual passenger traffic will reach about 40 million, the maximum capacity Ben Gurion can handle. The need for a supplementary airport has been raised since the 1970s, and a series of government decisions have been made over the years, but the airport has not yet been built. In 2017, professional bodies recommended building the airport at Ramat David in the Jezreel Valley, but the plan faced opposition from residents. In 2021, then-Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli canceled the decision. In February 2026, the government approved a renewed decision to advance the airport at Sdeh Tsimhon alongside Ramat David, but the legislation was separated from the Arrangements Law. The price is already felt: flight prices to Paris have risen by 47%, to Dubai by 51%, and to New York by 33% in the last two and a half years. The article notes that even if a decision is made now, building an airport will take years, and Israel is already behind schedule.

Ben Gurion Airport approaching its limit: "In less than a decade we will reach peak capacity — the hourglass is running out"