Passengers take note: new restrictions at Ben-Gurion

The Israel Airports Authority has reduced the baggage drop-off time at Ben-Gurion Airport from four to three hours before departure due to overloaded baggage handling areas and staff shortages. The change will mainly affect passengers of Israeli airlines, as foreign carriers already opened their check-in counters three hours before departure.

The Israel Airports Authority has officially changed the passenger service rules at Ben-Gurion International Airport. The baggage drop-off time for departing flights has been reduced from four to three hours before departure. The reason is serious logistical difficulties: chronic overload of the baggage handling area and an acute shortage of qualified staff. Formally, the three-hour rule has been in effect since the end of last year, but in practice, Israeli airlines accommodated travelers and opened counters four hours before departure during peak times. Now, checking in baggage earlier than three hours before departure will not be possible. For most foreign airlines, this change will not come as a surprise, as they already opened counters strictly three hours before departure. The change will mainly affect passengers of local airlines.