Increase in Passenger Traffic at Ben Gurion Airport During Hanukkah – The Israel Airports Authority reports that over 508,000 passengers are expected to pass through Ben Gurion Airport on international flights during the holiday. This marks a surge of approximately 50% compared to Hanukkah in 2024.
With the start of the Hanukkah vacation in the education system, significant congestion is noted at Terminal 3, as passenger traffic is also influenced by the proximity of Christmas on December 24. This overlap leads to a substantial increase in demand for flights abroad, particularly to popular destinations in Europe and North America.
Peak Days During Hanukkah
According to the Airports Authority’s forecasts, the busiest days will be:
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Sunday, December 14, 2025 – Approximately 65,000 passengers
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Thursday, December 18, 2025 – Approximately 65,000 passengers
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Sunday, December 21, 2025 – Approximately 63,000 passengers
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Monday, December 22, 2025 – Approximately 65,000 passengers
Traffic levels recorded in December 2025 are approaching those of the peak years in 2019 and 2022, with active operations from around 60 international airlines currently operating at Ben Gurion Airport.
Impressive Annual Passenger Traffic in 2025
According to the Israel Airports Authority, 2025 is expected to close with approximately 18.4 million international passengers passing through Ben Gurion Airport, on about 114,000 round-trip flights. These figures indicate a continued trend of recovery and growth in Israel’s civil aviation sector, following the impacts of COVID-19 and recent security events.
Top Destinations for Hanukkah 2025
Among the most popular destinations for the Hanukkah holiday are:
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United States
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United Arab Emirates
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Greece
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Hungary
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France
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