Let the exodus begin (archives)
Photo: Yoav Glasner
Some 300,000 Israelis are travelling abroad on Passover
About 1.37 million passengers are expected to pass through Ben-Gurion Airport throughout April. Most popular destinations are European cities, US, Thailand and Greek islands.
The passenger traffic at Ben-Gurion Airport will be particularly heavy this Passover.
According to Israel Airports Authority (IAA) figures, it is expected to grow by about 5% from the same period last year.
According to initial figures, more than one million passengers have passed through Israel's international airport in the month of March, and about 1.37 million are expected to do the same throughout April. The figures refer to both Israeli and foreign passengers on arriving and departing flights.
Positive Month
Despite drop in incoming tourism, 820,848 travelers passed through Israel's international airport last month, a 2.4% increase from February 2014.
According to travel agencies' reports and estimates, some 300,000 Israelis will travel abroad during Passover. The most popular destinations are cities in central and Western Europe, places like northern Italy and the Black Forest, the United States, Thailand and the Greek islands of Rhodes and Crete. Turkey is out of the picture.
Ko Tao, Thailand. One of the popular destinations for Israelis (Photo: Shutterstock)
Ben-Gurion Airport has reinforced its staff in preparation for the migration season. Many Israelis have already left the country over the weekend, upon the start of the school vacation, which will end on April 12.
The airport's busiest days are expected to be Thursday, April 2, when nearly 65,000 passengers are scheduled to pass through the airport on 389 departing and arriving flights, and Easter Sunday, April 12, with 70,000 passengers on 420 flights.
