Israeli Ben Gurion Airport Passenger Numbers Plunge Amidst Regional Conflict
Passenger numbers at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport have plummeted by 43% in the first nine months of 2024, a direct consequence of the ongoing conflict in the region, Bloomberg reports.
The airport authority announced on Tuesday that the airport served a mere 10.85 million international passengers between January and September, a stark decline from the 19.01 million recorded during the same period in 2023. The significant drop is attributed to numerous airlines suspending or reducing flights to the hub following the war on Gaza.
While international carriers have been hesitant, Israeli airlines have witnessed a surge in traffic, experiencing a 25% increase in passenger numbers. This shift is largely attributed to the limited availability of flights offered by foreign airlines.
The situation has been further complicated by the escalating conflict, which has now spread to neighboring Lebanon. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has advised commercial jets to avoid airspace over both Israel and Lebanon, leading to a further decrease in flights to both countries. Carriers currently flying over the region are forced to take longer routes, utilizing Egyptian and Saudi Arabian airspace to circumvent potential conflict zones.
