International flights have returned to pre-corona levels, and even beyond As part of the preparation for the holiday, a “family patrol” was established, which will help families with children while waiting in line and during the security check | Passengers with hand luggage only who have registered for the flight (check-in) in advance will go through a fast check route
All-time record demand for flights during Passover this year: Even compared to the growth in the number of passengers at all airports in the world, the increase in passenger traffic in Israel is relatively high, and this year is expected to surpass the number of passengers of 2019, which was a record year in Israel and in the entire aviation world.
More than 24 million passengers on international flights will pass through Israel this year. The monthly average since the beginning of the year is over one and a half million passengers, and the month of March will end with over 1.9 million passengers.
The Airports Authority responded to the airlines’ request to expand the variety of flights and the competition for the variety of destinations. The authority prepared to receive record numbers of passengers and increased the array of workers in the field. Employees going on vacation was reduced as much as possible. During all the days of the holiday, all the administrators in the Rasht and the National Bank of Israel, from all departments and levels, will be in the field, including presence at night, on the eve of the holiday and during the holiday itself. The service points for passengers will be increased in the passenger halls, from the security check to flight attendant service. The goal: to prevent delays, solve problems and ensure a smooth flow of passengers.
On peak days, close to 100,000 passengers will pass through the airport per day, with approximately 580 landings and takeoffs. On Sunday, April 9, 89,000 passengers are expected to pass through the airport; on Monday 10.4 about 90 thousand passengers; on Thursday 13.4 about 97,400 passengers; And on Sunday, April 16, over 89,000 passengers are expected.
In the summer season, April to October 2023, 13 new airlines will start landing in Israel, offering a wide variety of new destinations with direct flights. Among them, three companies will resume operations after the Corona virus, and another 10 will come to us for the first time.
The companies are: Aero Italia to Milan and Florence, Wizz Air (Malta) to Rome and Milan, Iceland Air to Reykjavik, Anime Wings to Romania, Iberia Express to Madrid, Air Astana to Kazakhstan, Play One to Armenia, Tbilisi Airways to Georgia, Knut Shark to Tashkent and Red Wings to Russia. Air Malta, Air Serbia, and the Polish Smart Wings will renew the routes to Benin.
As part of the preparation for the holiday, a “family patrol” was established, which will help families with children while waiting in line and during the security check. In the hand luggage check-in hall, 4 new technological stations were activated in addition to the 24 existing stations, which will shorten the time spent in the complex. Passengers with hand luggage only who have registered for the flight (check-in) in advance will go through a fast check route. These are the passengers of all airlines that allow early check-in.
The field’s management recently launched a “Digital NetBag” pilot, which includes new self-service stations (“Touch and Play”) with self-printing of the luggage tag that includes a barcode, and a quick delivery of the suitcase directly into the plane without the need to register at the counter. The stations will be placed at gates B A and G, and the airlines participating in the pilot are Turkish Air, United Airlines, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swissair, Air Canada and Cathay Pacific.
Rasht recommends that the traveling public arrive 3 hours before the flight, check in from home, attach a tag with name and phone number to the suitcase, and also leave details inside the suitcase. It is not advisable to send essential items such as medicines, a laptop, etc. them with you in your hand luggage. And of course, even at the height of the rush, be patient, in the end everyone will make it to the flight.
During Passover, there will also be a record number of flights departing from Terminal 1, since its reactivation in 2013. Terminal 1 is particularly attractive to airlines that pay reduced fees, and to passengers who benefit from cheaper flight prices. The terminal includes a wide variety of duty free shops and an enjoyable shopping experience on the way to vacation, cafes and restaurants that are kosher for Passover, a shuttle service to the main terminal, free Wi-Fi, information and intelligence stations, an open play area for children, a “mother and child” room, synagogues and more.