Ben Gurion 2 and 3 on the way: Two international airports to be built soon in Israel
To combat the high cost of flights, surprise strikes, and heavy congestion, the Ministry of Finance is promoting a plan to entrust the construction and operation of new aviation facilities in Israel to private franchisees.
The surprise strike at Ben Gurion Airport and the frustratingly long queues on the way to the plane have once again demonstrated the sensitivity of the State of Israel's almost sole gateway for entry and exit. The increasing congestion in the terminals, alongside the sharp spike in flight prices over the last two years, set a clear warning sign: the national airport is struggling to meet demand, and the next crisis is only a matter of time.
In the Ministry of Finance, they are trying to break the monopoly and reduce the total dependence on Ben Gurion Airport and its powerful workers' committee. The emerging plan includes an unprecedented acceleration of planning and legislative procedures for the establishment of two complementary international airports — in Ramat David in the north and in Tziklag in the south. Unlike Ben Gurion Airport, the intention is to entrust the construction and operation of the new facilities to private franchisees.
As published in 'Israel Hayom', the Ministry of Finance warns that without a rapid infrastructure response, Israeli citizens will be forced to deal routinely with a shortage of flights and sky-high prices, which have already recorded increases of tens of percent to popular destinations such as Paris, Dubai, and New York. The ministry harshly criticizes the Israel Airports Authority, claiming that its expensive and inefficient employment structure hinders efficiency measures and delays development.
Attempts to find alternatives to Ben Gurion Airport have been dragging on for over a decade, amidst public and security struggles. While the plan in Ramat David encounters fierce opposition from the residents of the Jezreel Valley, and the alternative at the Nevatim base was taken off the table due to the position of the defense establishment, the government hopes that the urgent promotion of the alternatives in Ramat David and Tziklag will allow for cutting through the bureaucracy.
Completing such complex projects usually takes about a decade, but the Ministry of Finance is determined to complete the planning infrastructure already now. The goal is to enable the next government and the Knesset to act quickly, create real competition in the skies, and ensure stability in the Israeli aviation industry.
