Ben Gurion International Airport

This story may sound apocryphal, but it is absolutely true!

Most road signs in Israel are written in both Hebrew and Latin lettering, and thus most tourists are able to read them. Ben-Gurion airport translates as Namal teufah Ben-Gurion and the Hebrew acronym is Natbag. For years, the directional signs along the main Jerusalem - Tel Aviv road had these words – and only these words – next to the arrows pointing the way.

נתב''ג

Natbag

Needless to say, many a tourist missed the turnoff from the main road!

Ben-Gurion Airport is located nine miles (15 km) SE of Tel Aviv, near the city of Lod. It serves as the home base of El Al, Arkia Israel Airlines and Israir. It is operated by the Israel Airports Authority which manages all airports and border crossings in Israel; the IAA is a government-owned corporation.

The airport is accessible by car, bus and train, with a railway station right at the airport; taxi stands are located outside the arrivals building. There you will find both private taxis and shared taxis, known in Hebrew as "monit sherut," going to various places such as Beer Sheva, Jerusalem and Haifa. There is no train or public bus service on the Jewish Sabbath (from Friday afternoon through Saturday evening) or religious holidays.

The security force at Ben Gurion International Airport is comprised of both police officers and Israeli army soldiers and the practices in effect at the airport make it one of the most secure airports in the world.

History

The airport was built in 1936 in the-then British Mandate of Palestine; it was known as "Wilhelma Airport," having gotten its name from the German Templar colony which was located in close proximity. The airport was used by the RAF during World War II and its name was changed to RAF Lydda in 1943. Israeli soldiers captured the airport on 10 July 1948, and the new State of Israel was in control.

By 1952, the number of passengers passing through Lod International Airport had risen to 100,000 a month. (2010 was the busiest year in the airport’s history, with 12,160,339 passengers passing through, on over 95,000 commercial flights.)

The airport was renamed Ben Gurion International Airport in 1973 in honor of David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of the State of Israel.

The airport underwent a major expansion which took 10 years to complete; Terminal 3 finally opened its doors on November 2, 2004.

Services

Bank Hapoalim and Changeplace can be found in the Arrivals Hall, in the area of the conveyor belts.

Baggage trolleys are available in the Arrivals Hall, after passport control. For security reasons you should NOT leave your baggage unattended.

There is a Ministry of Tourism information counter at which you can get information regarding a wide array of topics of interest to tourists; they will also help you book a hotel. This counter is manned 24 hours a day, but is closed on the Jewish Sabbath and holidays.

The airport has several eateries, all of them of the popular fast-food variety: 8 coffee shops, 3 dairy restaurants and 2 serving meat. There are also 5 VIP lounges.

Duty-free shopping includes clothing & sportswear, jewelry, tobacco, books & newspapers, gifts, a drugstore, music & electronics, perfumes & cosmetics, toys, sweets and the Israel government Coins & Medals Corporation.

There are also non-duty free stores that can be visited by people who are not flying (as well as by those who are!).

Enjoy your stay in Israel!