AVIATION
July 2026
year-over-year increase, reaching 83.3 thousand entries compared to 56.6 thousand in June 2025. The vast majority of these arrivals were tourists, accounting for 81.9 thousand entries , while day visitors made up the remaining 1.4 thousand. Looking at the broader picture for the first half of the year, a total of 439.7 thousand visitors entered Israel between January and June 2026. The United States remains the leading source of inbound travel, generating 36.0% of all visitor arrivals. France followed as the second largest market at 10.5%, with the United Kingdom and Russia contributing 7.6% and 5.3% of the visitor total, respectively. Simultaneously, Israeli citizens demonstrated an exceptionally strong appetite check-in areas, restaurants, offices and commercial space designed to increase
for international travel this summer. June 2026 recorded a massive surge to 918.4 thousand outbound departures by Israelis, nearly doubling the 487.6 thousand departures documented during the same month last year. Air travel was by far the preferred choice for locals, representing 90% of all departures with 824.8 thousand trips made by plane. Land crossings accounted for 81.8 thousand departures-with 36 thousand specifically passing through the Taba border crossing - while maritime travel saw a modest 11.8 thousand departures. However, despite this June spike, the cumulative data for the first half of 2026 reflects a slight overall decline in outbound movement compared to the previous year. foreign airlines suspended service because of security concerns. The airport faced further operational challenges earlier this year after Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran triggered retaliatory missile attacks, prompting temporary airspace closures, widespread flight cancellations and restrictions on airport operations. Israel gradually reopened its airspace following a ceasefire, but many international airlines have been cautious about returning. Analysis of OAG Schedules Analyser data shows Ben Gurion is scheduled to offer approximately 1.32 million departing seats in July 2026, about 29% more than July 2025.
Tourism Resilience: Foreign Arrivals Rise While Israeli Departures Surge Despite Ongoing Military Operation
Inbound and outbound travel numbers for June 2026 reveal contrasting trends, highlighted by a notable shift in visitor demographics and updated statistical methodologies T he latest official travel data for June 2026 shows patterns, despite the ongoing influence of Operation “Lion’s
Roar” which commenced earlier this year. Foreign visitor arrivals to the country experienced a substantial
distinct resilience in Israel’s tourism sector alongside a dynamic shift in local travel
Israel Advances Tel Aviv Airport Expansion
processing capacity and improve the passenger experience. The project
remains subject to planning approval before construction can begin. The tender, published July 1, describes the work as the eastern expansion of Terminal 3 and confirms it will be awarded through a single- stage procurement process. It also states that construction cannot commence until a building permit has been secured.
Will add a new eastern passenger terminal spanning about 50,000 m2 (538,000 ft.2) and a two-level underground facility
I srael is moving forward with an expansion of Ben Gurion Airport’s Terminal 3 in Tel Aviv, signaling confidence in the long-term recovery of the country’s aviation sector. Israel Airports Authority (IAA) has issued a public tender for the project, which will add a new eastern passenger
terminal spanning about 50,000 m2 (538,000 ft.2) and a two-level underground facility of around 20,000 m2 to house baggage handling and security screening systems. According to the tender documents, the expansion will include new airline
Since the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza, Tel Aviv has experienced repeated disruptions as
18 • www.itn.co.il
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