Gov’t approves new international airport in Israel’s South, amid Ben-Gurion congestion concerns

Israel will build a new international airport in southern Israel at Ziklag, alongside a northern airport, as officials warn Ben Gurion is nearing capacity.

The government approved the establishment of a new international airport in southern Israel on Sunday, designating the Ziklag area in the Negev as its location.

This new airport in the South will be developed alongside an additional international airport in northern Ramat David. The government cited the main factor behind the development of the two new airports as growing congestion at Ben-Gurion Airport. It also said that the new airports would encourage economic growth in the country’s peripheral areas.

The government’s decision calls for accelerating planning of the airport in the South to match the pace of the progressing airport in the North, so the two can be developed simultaneously.

According to the proposal, the existing Ben-Gurion Airport in central Israel is approaching its maximum capacity of approximately 40 million passengers per year.

Without additional international civilian airports, the government said, Israel faces a serious risk of an aviation crisis. This would lead to a shortage of available flights relative to demand and potential pressure to increase ticket prices.

The government underscored the importance of advancing both the northern and southern airports in parallel. It added that the development of both air hubs would enable balanced economic growth across the North and South, creating numerous jobs in those areas.

Strategic importance

Further, the government noted the airports’ strategic importance in emergency scenarios, citing lessons learned during the war and Operation Rising Lion against Iran in June.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move was part of a broader national vision.

“This is part of our vision, a real vision for developing and settling the Negev and eliminating the periphery,” Netanyahu remarked at the government meeting.

“I have always said, ‘Government infrastructure combined with private initiative.’ This is the classic connection in the case of this enormous anchor project.”

“Only in this way will we be able to provide a real response to the growing demand from tourists and the air traffic of many millions who arrive in Israel each year, and many more who will arrive, as well as Israeli citizens who travel abroad,” he added.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev (Likud) said Israel must already prepare for the heavy congestion expected at Ben-Gurion Airport until the additional airports are operational.

“Establishing two complementary international airports is an urgent national, economic, and security necessity,” she said.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionist Party) echoed Regev’s remarks, adding that the state would allocate the necessary resources to execute both projects in the South and the North.

Ahead of Sunday’s decision, protesters demonstrated in northern Israel against the advancement of the airport in Ramat David. Demonstrators expressed concern that the plan could ultimately result in the construction of an international airport in the northern Jezreel Valley.

They argued such a move would severely harm vital agricultural land, Israel’s food security, the environment, agriculture, and public health. Protest leaders instead called on the government to develop the airport only in southern Israel.

The government’s decision on Sunday finalized the southern airport’s location in the Ziklag area rather than Nevatim, which had initially been considered.

Although the Ziklag site had previously been considered, it was originally rejected due to its proximity to Gaza-area flight paths frequently used by the Israel Air Force. Officials had raised concerns about its closeness to the Gaza border and potential security risks.

However, the defense establishment ultimately concluded that the risk was not substantial enough to halt the project.

Aviation industry sources have reported that the site could still pose logistical challenges, including potential strain on Israel’s air traffic control networks.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.