At the airport, they prepare in advance for high numbers of passengers
In accordance with the instructions of the Minister of Transportation Miri Regev, the Airports Authority prepared ahead of time for the volume of passengers expected to pass through Israel during the Passover period. To this end, the number of employees will be increased, stations for quick check-in and independent baggage delivery will be activated, and rapid electronic inspection measures will be added to shorten queues and routes special for those with hand luggage only, and the set of shuttles will be expanded to transport passengers between the terminals and the parking lots.
As part of the National Airport’s preparations for the large volume of passengers, a “family cruise” will be operated during the Passover holiday, which will make it easier for families with children and ensure a quick passage of the security check procedures. Also, a check-in area will be opened for the luxury departments of the airlines (except El Al) near Gate 01 on the level G. In the hand luggage security check-in hall, dedicated check-in routes will be opened for assisted passengers and for the luxury departments of the airlines.
Despite the preparations, the airport authority recommends checking in ahead of time at home and arriving at the airport about three hours before the flight. Passengers without suitcases will be able, as has been customary for a long time, to check their hand luggage at the express security check at the station W. At this point, Terminal 3 is the only one that is active during the Passover holiday, so low-cost airline passengers must also go to this terminal.
Israeli airlines: increasing flights, streamlining check-in and expanding frequency
The national airline El Al is also preparing to meet demand during this period, and therefore it will increase its activity schedule with additional flights to various destinations including Athens, Amsterdam, Paris, London, Thailand, New York and more. Also, the line to Fort Lauderdale in the United States, a popular vacation destination that is a base for cruise vacationers, returned to activity for Passover.
El Al points out that in light of the volume of passengers during this period, waiting times are expected to be longer than usual. Therefore, she joins the recommendation to perform the check-in in advance, which opens approximately 24 hours before departure, in order to save time at the airport. Those who check-in in advance will be able to go to the self-check-in stations between gate 32 and gate 33, print luggage tags, go through a security check and access the express counter for sending the luggage.
In light of the tensions with Iran and the resulting lack of clarity, El Al allows passengers whose flights to Israel on foreign airlines have been canceled to return to Israel at uniform prices valid until Saturday, April 20 (inclusive), and changes may apply depending on developments. The prices for the return direction only are: Athens at $217, London from $314, Paris at $361, Amsterdam at $326, Madrid at $347, New York at $795, Miami at $849, Larnaca for $143, Rhodes for $150, Krakow for $250 and Warsaw for $265.
Israir is also preparing for Passover and the increase in demand. Hila Hermolin-Ronen, the company’s vice president of marketing and sales, says that 2 to 3 additional planes will be added, the frequencies will be expanded to some of the company’s 30 destinations, and additional pilots will be hired to increase the flights. Among the destinations that will be increased in both frequencies and flight hours are Rome, Athens, Berlin , Paphos, Catania, Prague, Budapest, Montenegro and more.
Arkia, like the other airlines, is expanding its flight schedule in the 27 destinations it flies to. Its new destinations include the Greek Islands, Amsterdam, Rome, Barcelona, Dubai, Zanzibar, Batumi, Salzburg, Montenegro, Seychelles and more. According to Arkie’s CEO, Oz Berlovitz, in addition to increasing the frequency and operating 7 days a week, Arkie will already increase the call center and field teams so that it will be prepared for the coming Passover.