"You won't recognize it": New tunnels, a five-star hotel, and doubling parking spaces — this is how Ben Gurion Airport will look in 2030
A new interchange and tunnels under Highway 1 will shorten the way to the airport by 10 kilometers for every passenger. Terminal 3 will be expanded in all directions, with 90 new check-in counters and a new concourse for aircraft added. The number of parking spaces will be doubled to 40,000, and the first five-star hotel will open on the airport grounds.
The Israel Airports Authority is promoting a comprehensive expansion project at Ben Gurion Airport. A new interchange and tunnels will shorten the way to the airport by 10 kilometers for every passenger. Terminal 3 will be expanded, and a new concourse for aircraft and 90 new check-in counters will be added. The goal of the project is to enable the movement of 40 million passengers per year. The number of parking spaces will be doubled to 40,000, and the first five-star hotel will be built. The seating area in the food court will be expanded to cope with heavy passenger loads.
The State of Israel is currently working to correct a planning error of decades past through one of the largest infrastructure projects in the country. Under Highway 1, at a distance of hundreds of meters from the runways, a new tunnel was recently completed, which will direct traffic from Terminal 3 towards Jerusalem and Highway 6. The project, which includes the construction of two tunnels, bridges, and ramps, is expected to save every passenger arriving from Tel Aviv about 10 kilometers of travel.
The current reality at the airport is characterized by peak loads, with more than 2.5 million passengers expected to pass through in August alone. These loads are felt during long hours at check-in and in luggage queues. A family on their way abroad described the experience: "We are facing delays of almost two hours," they said.
Sharon Kedmi, CEO of the Israel Airports Authority, explained that delays sometimes stem from operational needs and a shortage of staff relative to the number of planes taking off and landing simultaneously.
Expansion of Terminal 3 and increasing capacity
Terminal 3 will be expanded in all directions to accommodate 40 million passengers per year. A new concourse will be built to allow the connection of dozens of additional aircraft to the terminal's jet bridges. 90 new counters will be added to the check-in system, in addition to the 120 currently operating. The underground luggage handling systems will be expanded, and conveyor belts will be added in the departures hall.
Improving service: food, parking, and hospitality
The seating area in the food court will be expanded to address current heavy loads. The number of parking spaces will be doubled to 40,000, compared to 21,000 today. A seven-story five-star hotel will be built, featuring 260 rooms and a rooftop pool. The system will encourage check-in from home and the use of kiosks at the airport to shorten queues.
Looking to the future
The expansion project is intended to make Ben Gurion Airport faster and more efficient. The Israel Airports Authority hopes that the dramatic growth will occur without passengers feeling the disruption. The forecast is based on expected growth in passenger traffic and the return of foreign airlines to operations in Israel.
From Ben Gurion 2000 to Ben Gurion 2030
Terminal 3, which opened in 2004 as "Ben Gurion 2000," has reached the limit of its capacity in recent years. While it introduced a new standard of jet bridges and conveyors at the time, the dramatic increase in traffic now requires additional solutions. Professional staff note that the systems are being pushed to the limit as they work to increase capabilities for the next 50 years.
