1.3 million Israelis flew abroad: this is the destination that took first place
Data from the Central Bureau of Statistics reveals an incredible 26% increase in departures abroad in the summer of 2026. Which destination overtook Athens, where was the craziest surge recorded, and what is the staggering gap compared to tourists entering Israel?
Israelis stormed Ben Gurion Airport in the summer of 2026 and broke new records: in July, about 1.30 million departures of Israelis abroad were recorded — a dramatic jump of about 26% compared to July of last year. According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics, about 88% of passengers chose to fly by air, as the combination of expanded flight supply and a desire for a vacation flooded the planes with masses of vacationers.
The map of the busiest destinations at Ben Gurion Airport shows total dominance of the Mediterranean basin alongside surprising jumps in Europe. Larnaca took first place with about 145 thousand passengers, followed by Athens with a small gap (about 140 thousand). New York was ranked third (about 100 thousand passengers), but the most staggering figure came from Rome, which recorded a crazy jump of about 92% in passenger traffic, alongside a jump of about 55% in demand for Budapest.
The dominance of Cyprus, Greece, and nearby destinations highlights the Israeli public's preference for short and accessible flights, but on the other side of the route, the picture remains bleak. While 1.25 million Israelis went to vacation overseas, only about 110 thousand visitors entered Israel during the month. The extreme gap — almost 12 departing Israelis for every tourist entering — illustrates how quickly outbound aviation has recovered compared to inbound tourism.
The data for July 2026 proves that the joy of travel of the Israeli public has returned in full force, with a refreshing change in the map of vacation preferences. With the arrival of August, which is traditionally considered the busiest month of the year, the loads at Ben Gurion Airport are expected to break further records and ensure that the summer of 2026 will be remembered as one of the most turbulent and busiest in the history of Israeli aviation.
