Trolley collection point
Photo: IAA
Ben Gurion Airport braces for record day
Over 77,000 passengers are expected to pass through the airport on Sunday to spend Passover abroad. This is an 18% increase in passenger traffic over last year. Luggage trolleys now require a credit card deposit to encourage their tidy return.
More than 80,000 passengers are expected to pass at Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday morning to celebrate the Passover holiday abroad.
This is one of the busiest days in the history of the airport, which is expected to reflect an 18 percent increase in passenger traffic compared to last year.
Crowds at Ben Gurion (File photo)
As part of the preparations at Ben Gurion, additional security guards, security checkers and service personnel were assigned, advanced technological systems were activated and a new parking lot was opened. All this is intended to assist the check-in process whilst coping with the anticipated congestion.
The increase in passenger traffic was a direct result of the Open Skies agreement, which brought about 130 airlines to Israel that offer attractive prices for passengers.
“The days of Passover will be busy during all hours of the day, so please be patient and tolerant,” the Israel Airports Authority said before the holiday.
Israelis’ preferred destinations for Passover 2017 are Turkey (for transit flights mostly), USA , France, Germany and Italy.
Over the past few days, a new system has been operated at the airport. Some 3,500 new luggage trolleys are available for passenger use via a NIS 10 deposit on one’s credit card. The deposit is refunded upon the return of the trolley to a collection point. Up until now, trolleys have been offered to passengers for free, and they have tended to be left haphazardly about the terminal and parking lots.
“It’s very unpleasant to get to the car park and find that the neighbor’s trolley is leaning on your car or blocking it,” explained Gurion airport manager Shmuel Zakai. “The service requiring the return of the trolleys to their place is efficient and will save passengers from unnecessary nuisance as is the case at airports around the world.”
(Translated and edited by J. Herzog)
