History of Ben Gurion Airport in Timeline
Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel's primary international airport, is located near Lod and Or Yehuda, serving as the country's busiest airport. Situated 45km northwest of Jerusalem and 20km southeast of Tel Aviv, it functions as a hub for El Al, Israir, Arkia, and Sundor. Previously known as Lod Airport, it was renamed in 1973 to honor David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister. The Israel Airports Authority manages the airport.
4 hours ago : Houthi Missile Strikes Near Tel Aviv Airport; Israel Intercept Failure
A Houthi missile struck near Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. The IDF failed to intercept the missile. Gaza blockade sparks outrage amid rising hunger-related deaths.
1933: KLM service to Gaza
Since 1933 Holland's KLM stopped at Gaza en route to Batavia.
1934: Airport Began as Airstrip
In 1934, during the British Mandate for Palestine, the airport began as an airstrip with two unpaved runways, built largely at the urging of Airwork Services.
August 1935: First Passenger Service
In August 1935, the first passenger service at the new airport was the Misr Airwork route Cairo—Lydda—Nicosia.
April 1937: LOT Polish Airlines service
On April 4, 1937, LOT Polish Airlines established regular service to Lydda Airport, which at that time had four fully operational concrete runways.
May 1940: Misr Airwork resumed service
In May 1940, Misr Airwork, which had suspended flights upon the British declaration of war, resumed the weekly Cairo—Lydda—Nicosia service.
June 1940: Imperial Airways service suspended
During World War II, in June 1940, Imperial Airways and later British Overseas Airways Corporation continued service to Lydda until the fall of France.
February 1942: KLM curtailed its route
In February 1942, due to the Japanese military advance into Burma and Malaya, KLM curtailed its route to Batavia, making Lydda the eastern terminus.
1943: Renamed RAF Station Lydda
In 1943, the airport was renamed "RAF Station Lydda" and served as a major airfield for military air transport.
1944: Aviron Aviation Company Initiated Service
In 1944, as the German threat in the Middle East subsided, Aviron Aviation Company began service four times a week between Lydda and Haifa.
1946: First civilian transatlantic route
In 1946, TWA inaugurated the first civilian transatlantic route, New York City to Lydda Airport.
April 1948: British gave up the airport
At the end of April 1948, the British gave up control of the airport.
July 1948: Capture by Israel Defense Forces
On July 10, 1948, during Operation Danny, soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces captured the airport, transferring control to the newly declared State of Israel.
November 1948: Flights Resumed
On November 24, 1948, flights resumed at the airport, which had been renamed "Tel Aviv-Lod International Airport".
1952: Passenger numbers increased
By 1952, the number of passengers passing through the terminal had risen to 100,000 a month.
1969: Terminal 2 Inauguration
In 1969, Terminal 2 was inaugurated when Arkia resumed operations at Ben Gurion Airport after the Six-Day War.
May 1972: Lod Airport Massacre
On May 30, 1972, the Lod Airport massacre occurred, resulting in 24 deaths and 80 injuries when three members of the Japanese Red Army sprayed machine gun fire into the passenger arrival area.
1973: Renamed in honour of David Ben-Gurion
In 1973, Lod Airport was renamed Ben Gurion International Airport to honour David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel, who passed away that year.
1973: Airport Name Changed
In 1973, the airport's name was changed from Lod to Ben Gurion International Airport to honor Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion.
1985: Kozo Okamoto released
In 1985, Kozo Okamoto, the only surviving terrorist from the Lod Airport massacre, was released as part of a prisoner exchange with the PFLP-GC.
January 1994: Decision to build Terminal 3
In January 1994, the decision was made to proceed with the construction of a new state-of-the-art terminal due to inadequate facilities, driven by mass immigration and increased international travel.
1997: Runway Extension Plans Approved
In 1997, plans were approved for the extension of runways 03/21 and 08/26 at Ben Gurion Airport to alleviate safety and capacity concerns.
1999: Terminal Construction
In 1999, a new terminal was built to handle the expected crowds in 2000, but it never officially opened.
2000: Expected Tourism Influx
The new state-of-the-art terminal was designed to accommodate the expected tourism influx for the 2000 millennium celebrations.
2000: Terminal Never Opened
The terminal built in 1999 to handle crowds expected in 2000, never officially opened.
2000: Expected massive influx of pilgrims
Work on Natbag 2000, the Terminal 3 project, was scheduled for completion prior to 2000 in order to handle a massive influx of pilgrims expected for the Millennium celebrations.
February 2003: Memorial Ceremony for Ilan Ramon
In February 2003, the terminal was used for memorial ceremonies upon the arrival of the casket of Col. Ilan Ramon after the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.
January 2004: Arrival of Elhanan Tannenbaum and Soldiers' Caskets
In January 2004, the terminal was used for the arrival of Elhanan Tannenbaum and the caskets of three Israeli soldiers from Lebanon.
October 2004: Terminal 3 Opened
On October 28, 2004, Terminal 3 opened, replacing Terminal 1 as the main international gateway to and from Israel. The inaugural flight was an El Al flight to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.
November 2004: Opening of Terminal 3
On November 2, 2004, Terminal 3 opened its doors, a decade after the decision to proceed with the project was made in January 1994.
2004: Concourses B, C, and D opened
Concourses B, C, and D were opened when Terminal 3 opened in 2004.
2004: Increase in private jet flights
In 2004, there was a significant growth in private jet flights and private jet users.
February 2006: Runway Renovation Completed
In February 2006, a 24 million NIS renovation project was completed at Ben Gurion Airport, reinforcing runway 08/26 and making it suitable for wide-body aircraft such as the Airbus A380.
February 2006: New VIP Wing Planned
In February 2006, the Israel Airports Authority announced plans to invest 4.3 million NIS in a new VIP wing for private jet passengers and crews.
December 2006: Airport Ranking
In December 2006, Ben Gurion International Airport ranked first among 40 European airports and 8th out of 77 airports in the world in a customer-friendly airport survey conducted by Airports Council International.
2006: "Bezalel Academy of Arts Centennial Exhibition"
In 2006, Terminal 1 served as a venue for the "Bezalel Academy of Arts Centennial Exhibition".
January 2007: Plans for a Hotel Announced
In January 2007, the IAA announced plans for a 120-bed hotel to be located about 300 m west of Terminal 3.
February 2007: Domestic Flights Moved to Terminal 1
On February 2007, domestic flights were moved from Terminal 2 into the refurbished Terminal 1.
August 2007: Color Code System Discontinued
Until August 2007, Ben Gurion Airport used a system of color codes on checked baggage, but the practice was discontinued after complaints of discrimination.
November 2007: Runway Renovation Completed
In November 2007, a 17 million NIS renovation project was completed, reinforcing runway 12/30 and making it suitable for future wide-body aircraft.
2007: Terminal 1 reopened
In 2007, Terminal 1 reopened as the domestic terminal following extensive renovations.
2007: Best Middle Eastern Airport
In the 2007 survey, Ben Gurion Airport retained its title as the best Middle Eastern airport.
January 2008: IAA planned to construct a new VIP terminal
In January 2008, the IAA announced plans to construct a new 1,000-square-metre (11,000 sq ft) VIP terminal next to Terminal 3.
July 2008: Terminal 1 caters for summer charter flights
In July 2008, Terminal 1 catered for summer charter and low-cost flights.
September 2008: New ILS Activated
In September 2008, a new ILS serving runway 12/30 was activated at Ben Gurion Airport.
October 2008: Terminal 1 temporarily closed
In October 2008, Terminal 1 temporarily closed for further renovations.
2008: Best Middle Eastern Airport
In the 2008 survey, Ben Gurion Airport retained its title as the best Middle Eastern airport.
2009: Railway Ridership
In 2009, almost 3.3 million passengers used the Israel Railways line to and from Ben Gurion Airport.
2009: Best Middle Eastern Airport
In the 2009 survey, Ben Gurion Airport retained its title as the best Middle Eastern airport.
2009: Terminal 1 Reopened in Summer
In the summer of 2009, Terminal 1 reopened again, expecting to reach a capacity of 600,000 passengers on international flights over three months.
2010: Low-cost carriers operating year-round
As of 2010, several low-cost carriers' international flights operated out of Terminal 1 year-round, including Vueling flights to Barcelona and easyJet flights to London, Manchester, Geneva, and Basel.
2010: Construction Begins on Runway Extensions
In 2010, construction began on the extension of runways 03/21 and 08/26 at Ben Gurion Airport.
2011: Runway Closure
By late 2011, runway 03/21 was closed at Ben Gurion Airport, and military activity was relocated to Nevatim Airbase.
April 2014: Baggage Screening Process Changed
In April 2014, the main X-ray machines were removed from the passenger queuing area in Terminal 3 at Ben Gurion Airport, and baggage screening began being performed after check-in.
May 2014: Runway Reopening
In late May 2014, runway 03/21 was reopened after being rebuilt and lengthened to 2,772 m, allowing it to handle most types of aircraft.
May 2014: Runway Extension Completed
On May 29 2014, the extension of runway 03/21 at Ben Gurion Airport was completed at a cost of 1 billion NIS, increasing air safety and doubling the number of aircraft movements.
2014: Airlines Banned Flights
During the 2014 conflict with Gaza, several airlines banned their flights to the airport for a couple of days.
2014: Main Runway Closed
From 2011 until early 2014, the main runway at Ben Gurion Airport was closed to accommodate the extension of runway 03/21 and other construction activity.
2015: Terminal 1 available to all low-cost carriers
In 2015, due to increased demand and following another expansion of the terminal, the Israel Airports Authority made Terminal 1 available to all low-cost carriers under certain conditions.
January 2017: Furthest Nonstop Flight
On January 2, 2017, the furthest nonstop flight departed from Ben Gurion Airport, a private Airbus A340-500 owned by Sheldon Adelson flying to Honolulu over the Arctic Ocean, projected to last 17 hours and 40 minutes.
June 2017: Passengers bussed directly to flights from Terminal 1
Beginning on June 19, 2017, following renovations, Terminal 1 passengers began being bussed directly to their flights from Terminal 1. Renovations included adding duty-free shops, restaurants and cafes. The terminal was also equipped with advanced checked-baggage handling and screening systems.
December 2017: Long-Term Expansion Plan Announced
In December 2017, the IAA announced a long-term expansion plan for Ben Gurion Airport estimated to cost approximately NIS 9 billion, including expansions of Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, a new domestic flights terminal, and additional facilities.
2017: Tender for the hotel was published
In late 2017, the tender for the hotel was published by the IAA.
2017: Terminal 1 Adopts New Screening Procedure
In the summer of 2017, Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion Airport began using the same baggage screening procedure as Terminal 3, where screening is performed after baggage check-in.
August 2018: Tender for New Terminal Published
In August 2018, the IAA published a tender for the construction and operation of a new terminal dedicated to handling private and executive aircraft traffic.
2018: Concourse E Completed
Concourse E at Terminal 3 was completed in 2018.
2018: Temporary Tent Erected at Terminal 3
In the spring of 2018, a temporary large, air-conditioned tent was erected adjacent to Terminal 3 to ease overcrowding, housing 25 check-in counters and security screening facilities.
July 2019: Commercial Flights Moved from Sde Dov
In July 2019, commercial flights from Sde Dov Airport, which handled more domestic passengers annually than Ben Gurion Airport, were moved to Ben Gurion Airport following Sde Dov's closure.
2019: Opening of Ramon Airport
In 2019, Ramon Airport was opened as an alternative entry point to Israel, driven by concerns that Ben Gurion Airport was a single point of failure.
December 2020: New App Payment System Introduced
In December 2020, a new app payment system was introduced at Ben Gurion Airport with a simpler fare system. Supported routing and payment apps include Cello, Moovit, Pango, and Rav-Pass.
2020: COVID-19 Testing in Temporary Tent
Between 2020 and 2022, the temporary tent erected in 2018 adjacent to Terminal 3 was used for compulsory COVID-19 testing for all arriving passengers.
2021: Construction Begins on New Interchange
In late 2021, construction began on a new interchange that will provide additional access to Ben Gurion Airport from Highway 1, reducing travel distance from Tel Aviv.
2022: COVID-19 Testing in Temporary Tent
Between 2020 and 2022, the temporary tent erected in 2018 adjacent to Terminal 3 was used for compulsory COVID-19 testing for all arriving passengers.
October 2023: Drop in Airlines Due to Gaza War
In October 2023, with the outbreak of the Gaza war, the number of airlines that flew into Ben Gurion Airport dropped to just 7.
2023: 25 Million Passengers Expected
In 2023, 25 million passengers are expected to pass through Ben Gurion Airport.
February 2024: Only 45 Airlines Flying
By February 2024, only 45 airlines flew into Ben Gurion Airport.
Mentioned in this timeline
World War II - was a global conflict between the...
Barcelona is a major city located on the northeastern coast...
Lebanon officially the Republic of Lebanon is a country in...
John F Kennedy JFK was the th U S President...
Israel officially the State of Israel is a country in...
France officially the French Republic is a country primarily in...
Trending
1 hour ago Sydney Sweeney and Brandon Sklenar spark relationship rumors after flirty Stagecoach outing.
2 hours ago Jake Gyllenhaal's 'Othello' Snubbed by Tony Awards Despite Box Office Success with Denzel Washington.
2 hours ago Babil Khan Cries, Calls Bollywood Stars Rude in Viral Video Before Deleting Account
3 hours ago Sarah Jessica Parker Misses Met Gala, Citing Busyness, Snubbing Anna Wintour
3 hours ago Tesla Model 3 conquers Everest Base Camp with FSD; buyer regrets not switching earlier.
3 hours ago Masai Giraffe Calf Makes First Public Appearance at San Diego Safari Park!
Popular
Jane Goodall is a renowned English primatologist zoologist and anthropologist...
Ronald Reagan the th U S President - was a...
Pope Francis is the current head of the Catholic Church...
Michael Jordan also known as MJ is an American businessman...
Cristiano Ronaldo often nicknamed CR is a highly decorated Portuguese...
LeBron James nicknamed King James is a professional basketball player...