Decline in Passenger Traffic at Ben Gurion Airport Amid Ongoing Conflict
The number of passengers traveling through Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport has dramatically decreased by 43% in the first nine months of 2024, attributed to the ongoing war in Gaza that escalated on October 7. According to a report by Bloomberg, the airport managed to handle 10.85 million international passengers from January to September, a significant drop from 19.01 million during the same period last year, as stated by the Israel Airports Authority.
As airlines continue to suspend or reduce flights to Israel due to safety concerns, there has been a notable shift in passenger travel patterns. More individuals are opting to fly with Israeli airlines, which have reported an increase in travel traffic of up to 25%. This change comes amidst repeated interruptions in airline services, particularly as the conflict has spread to include Lebanon, leading to further travel disruptions in the region.
In light of the escalating conflict, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency has advised commercial airlines to avoid flying over Israeli and Lebanese airspace, prompting many carriers to halt their services to these countries. Consequently, airlines that continue operations must reroute their flights, taking longer paths to circumvent potential dangers in the airspace.
The tourism sector in Israel is also feeling the impact of the conflict, with estimated losses reaching 19.5 billion shekels (approximately $5.25 billion) during the year of the conflict. This includes 18.7 billion shekels ($5.04 billion) in international tourism losses and 756 million shekels ($204 million) in domestic tourism losses, particularly affecting regions in northern Israel, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
