ISRAEL, NOVEMBER 3, 2026 — Ben Gurion Airport is processing nearly as much passenger traffic as it did prior to the war, due to several international airlines returning to Israel’s primary international airport. Since April 9th, the airport has been fully operational after a cease-fire was reached among Israel, the United States, and Iran. Additionally, a number of carriers have recently announced that they will begin operating new routes and resuming operations at Ben Gurion Airport in the near future, monitored through aviation traffic updates.
Carriers Announce Restart Dates
On October 25, British Airways started to operate daily flights from London to Tel Aviv again. On November 30, Air Canada will begin operating non-stop flights from Toronto to Tel Aviv with four departures per week. On November 29, El Al is planning to introduce a new route to Buenos Aires. United Airlines has been operating out of Chicago since October 24th and is planning to begin operations in San Francisco in March of 2027. El Al initiated its service out of San Francisco on October 25th. Prior to making travel arrangements, consumers can view a current list of all airlines that are operating services into Israel, detailed in global airline schedules.
Passenger volume has continued to increase as the airport was able to resume operations on April 9th. Flights originating in North America, Europe, and South America are currently being added to the existing flight schedule. As each additional flight is added to the schedule, it will provide more seat options for families, business travelers, and individuals looking to travel prior to the winter holiday season, tracked via international flight trackers.
A Gateway in Full Operation
The Ben Gurion International Airport is located approximately 14 miles away from Tel Aviv, and it is the main airport in Israel that handles most of the international air traffic. There are three major airlines in Israel that fly out of this airport: El Al, Israir, and Arkia. These airlines provide service to various cities throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. In addition to the Israeli airlines, many foreign airlines use the facilities at the Ben Gurion International Airport. Foreign airlines also help increase the number of available flights to certain areas based on demand and scheduling. The Airport’s Live Board had approximately 194 arrivals on Tuesday, including flights coming from Larnaca, Athens, and Baku. Departures from the airport that day included service to Paris, Munich, Amsterdam, and Prague. Because flight schedules can vary frequently, it is recommended that passengers verify their schedule with their respective airlines. The nation’s second largest airline (following El Al), Israir, operates both domestically and internationally, flying out of Ben Gurion Airport as well as Ramon Airport. Initially operating domestically, the company started its operations in Eilat with approximately 350 employees. Today, the company serves numerous European and Asian cities, referenced in regional aviation reports.
Some Routes Remain on Hold
Austrian Airlines and Wizz Air have both continued to keep their Tel Aviv-Vienna flight services suspended. EasyJet has also put a hold on its Berlin flight service to Tel Aviv. American Airlines will be suspending all flights into and out of Tel Aviv until at least March 28, 2027. The timing of when each airline resumes operations is determined by that airline. As an example, the Lufthansa Group has indicated that their flights from Frankfurt will only operate during the summer months of the 2026/27 season. Additionally, all airlines are publishing updated winter schedules as they evaluate passenger demand. Travelers going to New York can select from El Al, United, Delta, Arkia, and Israir. El Al has flights to Boston, Los Angeles, and Miami. Passengers should check schedules as some flights are available only on specific days, monitored by airline network status boards.
What Travelers Should Know
The Israel Railways system operates passenger train services between the Terminal 3 station and both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. In addition, there is a late night train service that operates from Nahariya to the airport. By utilizing this rail line, passengers may be able to bypass the heavy traffic associated with the urban area surrounding the airport, as well as have their trip to the terminal scheduled for a specific time. November is a cheaper time to visit Israel due to decreased flight costs and hotel rates compared to peak season. While many stores and sites in smaller cities shut down during the winter months, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv will also have some reduced service offerings for tourists. It would be wise to verify whether locations you intend to visit are open prior to making plans to travel. The airport railway station was inaugurated in 2004 as part of the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem rail network and is located on the ground floor of Terminal 3. Travelers may verify up-to-date schedules via the Israel Railways website. To guarantee seat availability for peak winter travel periods, it is recommended that travelers book their tickets well in advance, outlined in rail and transit guidelines.
