Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv has experienced a 43% decline in passenger traffic during the first nine months of 2024, according to Alhurra.
This significant drop is attributed to the aftermath of the October 7 attack and escalating tensions in the region, which have led many airlines to either suspend their flights to Israel entirely or reduce them significantly.
The primary airport in Israel welcomed 10.85 million international travelers from January to September, a sharp decrease from the 19.01 million recorded in 2023, as reported by the country’s Airport Authority.
With the conflict extending to include Lebanon, the disturbances in regional air traffic have worsened noticeably, leading to increased fluctuations in flight schedules and travel options available to passengers.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had previously advised that commercial aircraft avoid Israeli and Lebanese airspace, prompting several airlines to halt flights to both countries.
This recommendation has further impacted the travel dynamics in the area, contributing to the downturn in passenger numbers at Ben Gurion Airport.
Last month, Yemen’s Houthi group claimed responsibility for firing a missile at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, in an attempt to target the location as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned from his trip to New York.
In a statement, the Iran-backed Houthis announced, “The missile force… carried out an operation targeting… ‘Ben Gurion’… Airport,” naming the missile “Palestine 2.”
The Israeli military confirmed it had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen earlier in the day, which triggered air raid sirens across central Israel.
