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Ben Gurion Airport Faces Severe Capacity Cuts Ahead of Passover

3/20/2026

39 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Severe restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport before Passover reduce capacity.
Israir canceled its schedule through March and paused ticket sales.
Arkia plans European flights with one-way fares starting at $599.
Alternative routes exist via Aqaba and Taba at high prices.
The Transportation Ministry reduced wide-body passenger limits to 130 and narrow-body to 120.

History

Historical Context

In 2020, Israel's aviation sector faced a severe downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a 75% drop in international flights and route suspensions by Israir Airlines. Today, ongoing restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport echo these past challenges, as the Transportation Ministry limits passenger capacity, threatening tourism recovery and airline financial stability, reminiscent of the struggles during the pandemic.

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Story summary

Severe restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport before Passover reduce capacity.
Israir canceled its schedule through March and paused ticket sales.
Arkia plans European flights with one-way fares starting at $599.
Alternative routes exist via Aqaba and Taba at high prices.
The Transportation Ministry reduced wide-body passenger limits to 130 and narrow-body to 120.

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