Significant announcement for travelers: A dramatic change at Ben Gurion Airport
A new technological system implemented in cooperation with airlines will automatically block check-in for passengers with a travel ban, even before they reach the airport.
The Population and Immigration Authority has begun operating a new technological upgrade that changes the procedure for departing from Israel. The updated system was recently put into operation and works in full cooperation with all airlines operating flights at Ben Gurion Airport.
Until recently, citizens against whom there was a travel ban encountered the problem only when they reached the passport control stations, after having passed all the security check stages and baggage drop-off. In the new situation, the check is performed automatically during check-in, whether it involves purchasing a ticket and registering online from home or arriving at the counters at the airport. If a travel ban exists, the flight registration process is blocked on the spot and the passenger receives a notification about it.
Sources in the aviation industry note that the main goal is to prevent distress and save valuable time. Many citizens suffer from travel bans due to outstanding debts, legal proceedings, or other administrative reasons, and often are not even aware of the existence of the ban until the moment of boarding the plane. Early handling allows passengers to settle legal or financial matters with the relevant authorities even before leaving their homes.
At the same time, the technological change provides a response to security exposures and more effective law enforcement. The issue was raised on the agenda especially against the backdrop of preparations for flights to Uman, due to the concern that deserters would try to leave the country's borders. In the past, there were cases where passengers managed to pass through the electronic gates at passport control by physically sticking to other passengers. This bypass is now completely blocked, as the restricted person cannot issue a boarding pass or proceed in the screening process.
Industry experts estimate that the cooperation between the Population Authority's systems and the airlines will significantly reduce cases of missed flights, streamline the work of enforcement agencies at border crossings, and prevent unnecessary arrivals of restricted passengers at the airport.
