Israel Airports Authority (IAA) announced on Wednesday a series of immediate measures to upgrade outbound passenger screening at Ben Gurion Airport following two recent security breaches, including an incident in October in which a 13-year-old boy boarded an El Al flight to the United States without a passport or ticket and another on Tuesday in which an 18-year-old man slipped onto an Austrian Airlines flight to Vienna without a ticket.
In both cases, the lapses were found at different points along the chain of procedures overseen by the IAA, the Population and Immigration Authority and the airlines. For aviation security reasons, officials said they could not disclose all the decisions made at a meeting held on Wednesday with the IAA director-general and other senior officials. They said, however, that the central change approved relates to how boarding passes are checked.
Under the new procedures, passengers will be required to present boarding passes at additional stages of the departure process where tickets were not previously checked, as part of a rollout that will be implemented gradually, the IAA said.
Officials cautioned that during the initial phase of the changes, waiting times could increase and lines at certain airport checkpoints may become longer. The IAA said the move is an integral part of security screening at Ben Gurion Airport and an additional step in its multiyear plan to improve efficiency, oversight and operational procedures for departing passengers.
Officials said the implementation and adjustment phase, including full application of the new procedures, is expected to be completed over the coming year and will be carried out in a phased and controlled manner. As part of the broader plan, a series of changes and additions will be introduced, including increased staffing at key points in the process, adjustments to work configurations and the deployment of advanced technological systems.
The IAA said the measures are intended to strengthen service continuity, improve the passenger experience and ensure consistent and orderly operations in line with established procedures. The improvement process is being carried out in close coordination with the Population and Immigration Authority and the airlines and will continue under full cooperation among all parties involved.
The IAA said it remains committed to investing all necessary resources to meet the highest standards, citing its obligation to passenger security and to providing reliable, professional and high-quality service to the public.